>  ' 


* 


* 

■  * 


( 


4 


ITA3PKR  <1-  'iU01W.it 


HOMER. 


TUMSUtn  IT 

ALEXANDER  POPE,  ESQ 


l 

(If  THREE  VOLUME*. 

VOL.  I. 


NEW-YORKr 

PUBLISHED  BY  HARPER  *  BROTHERS , 
If  0.  82  CLIFF- STREET, 

BOSTON  COLLEGE  LIBFV^' 
CHESTNUT  HILL,  MAl.  . 


“  Translations  almost  always  disappoint  me ;  1  must,  how¬ 
ever,  except  Pope’s  Homer,  which  has  more  of  the  spirit  of 
Homer  than  all  the  other  translations  put  together.” — Lord 
Byron. 


131478 


/O’NEILL  LIBRARY 
BOSTON  COLLEGE 

NOV  0  6  1998 


'  I 

CONTENTS 

OF 

THE  FIRST  VOLUME. 


PAGE 

Biographical  Sketch  of  Homer  ...  ix 

Preface . xv 

THE  ILIAD. 

Book  1.  .  .  . . 37 

—  II . 59 

—  Ill . 89 

—  IV . 109 

—  V . 123 

—  VI . .154 

—  VII . 173 

—  VIII . 190 

—  IX . 210 

—  X.  .  233 

—  XI . 252 

—  XII . 280 

—  XIII . 296 


■ 


/ 

■* 

' 

- 

- 


'  •  •  ' 


1 


.  • 


;  : 

}  : 


[ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

Of 

HOMER. 


No  event  has  been  recorded  of  the  life  of  this 
prince  of  poets,  on  which  much  reliance  can  be 
placed.  The  period  in  which  he  flourished,  the 
place  of  his  birth,  the  progress  of  his  studies,  and 
even  his  name,  have  exercised  the  ingenuity,  and 
excited  the  controversy  of  the  learned  in  every 
age;  and  the  author  of  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey, 
like  the  architect  of  the  pyramids  of  Egypt,  while 
he  has  excited  the  admiration,  has  also  eluded  the 
research  of  all  succeeding  generations.  Aristotle, 
Plutarch,  and  others,  have  employed  their  pens  in 
composing  his  biography ;  but  the  most  formal  ac¬ 
count  which  we  have  of  Homer  is  that  which  is 
said  to  have  been  collected  by  Herodotus,  of  which 
the  following  is  an  abstract : — 


X 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 


Homer  was  bom  at  Smyrna  about  168  years 
after  the  siege  of  Troy,  and  622  years  before  the 
expedition  of  Xerxes.  His  mother’s  name  was 
Crytheis,  an  orphan,  who  forfeited  the  protection 
of  her  uncle  residing  at  Cumae,  by  her  inconti- 
nency  ;  and  in  consequence  of  this  discovery  she 
was  committed  to  the  custody  of  Ismenias,  who 
was  leading  a  colony  to  Smyrna,  at  that  time 
building.  Shortly  after,  while  celebrating  a  festi¬ 
val  with  other  women  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
Meles,  she  was  delivered  of  Homer,  whom  she 
therefore  named  Melesigenes.  She  now  left  Isme¬ 
nias,  and  for  some  time  supported  herself  by  her 
labour,  till  she  became  the  wife  of  Phemius,  a 
schoolmaster  in  Smyrna.  On  the  death  of  his 
father-in-law,  our  poet  undertook  the  management 
of  the  school  so  successfully,  that  it  soon  became 
the  resort  both  of  natives  and  foreigners.  Among 
the  latter  of  these  was  one  Mentes,  a  master  of  a 
ship  from  Leucadia,  by  whose  persuasions  and 
promises  he  was  induced  to  relinquish  his  situa¬ 
tion,  and  accompany  him  in  his  travels.  With  him 
he  visited  Spain  and  Italy,  but  was  left  behind  at 
Ithaca,  on  account  of  a  defluxion  in  his  eyes. 
During  his  stay  in  this  place  he  was  entertained  by 
one  Mentor,  a  man  of  fortune,  justice,  and  hospi¬ 
tality  ;  and  from  him  he  learned  the  principal 
incidents  of  the  life  of  Ulysses  At  the  return  of 


OF  HOMER. 


XL 

his  friend  Mentes,  he  sailed  to  Colophon,  where, 
his  defluxion  recurring,  he  became  entirely  blind. 
No  better  expedient  now  suggested  itself  to  his 
mind,  than  immediately  to  return  to  Smyrna, 
where  he  might  reasonably  expect  the  support,  of 
his  former  friends  and  admirers,  and  have  leisure 
to  cultivate  his  poetical  talents  :  but  here  he  found 
his  poverty  increase,  and  his  hope  of  encourage¬ 
ment  fail :  he  therefore  removed  to  Cumse,  and  on 
his  journey  was  for  some  time  entertained  at  the 
house  of  one  Tychius,  a  leather  dresser.  The 
Cumaeans  professed  to  hold  him  in  high  venera¬ 
tion  ;  but  when  he  proposed  to  write  a  poem  ir 
praise  of  the  city,  if  they  would  allow  him  a  small 
annual  pension  in  return,  answer  was  made  that 
there  would  be  no  end  of  maintaining  all  the 
Homcri,  or  blind  men  ;  and  hence  he  got  the  name 
of  Homer.  From  Cum®  he  proceeded  to  Phocaea, 
where  one  Thestorides,  a  schoolmaster,  offered  to 
maintain  him,  if  he  would  suffer  him  to  transcribe 
his  verses.  To  these  terms  the  necessities  of  the 
poet  were  compelled  to  yield  :  but  Thestorides 
had  no  sooner  gained  his  object,  than  he  removed 
to  Chios,  where  the  poems  which  he  had  thus 
fraudulently  obtained  procured  him  wealth  and 
reputation,  while  the  author  himself  was  scarcely 
able  to  subsist  by  repeating  them  elsewhere.  At 
length,  some  travellers  arriving  from  Chio£,;ii*- 


Zii  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

formed  the  inhabitants  of  Phocsea  that  the  same 
verses  were  already  published;  and  Homer  re¬ 
solved  to  lose  no  time  in  seeking  out  and  prosecu¬ 
ting  the  offender.  Having  landed  near  Chios,  he 
was  received  by  one  Glaucus,  a  shepherd,  who 
carried  him  to  his  master  at  Bolissus,  who,  ad¬ 
miring  his  knowledge,  intrusted  him  with  the  edu¬ 
cation  of  his  children.  Here  the  report  of  his 
genius  soon  began  to  spread ;  and  Thestorides# 
hearing  of  his  approach,  fled  from  his  presence. 
Homer  soon  after  removed  to  Chios,  in  which  city  he 
established  a  school  of  poetry,  gained  a  competent 
fortune,  married,  and  had  two  daughters ;  one  of 
whom  died  young ;  the  other  became  the  wife  of 
his  patron  at  Bolissus.  Here  he  inserted  in  his 
poems  the  names  of  those  to  whom  he  had  been 
under  the  greatest  obligations,  such  as  Mentes, 
Phemius,  Mentor,  and  Tychius.  Having  now  de¬ 
termined  to  visit  Athens,  he  made  honourable  men¬ 
tion  of  that  city,  in  order  to  prepare  the  minds  of 
the  Athenians  for  his  kind  reception.  The  vessel 
in  which  he  sailed  being  driven  on  the  island  of 
Samos,  he  continued,  during  a  whole  winter,  to 
obtain  a  precarious  subsistence  by  singing  at  the 
houses  of  the  principal  inhabitants ;  and,  on  the 
arrival  of  spring,  again  set  sail  towards  Athens ; 
but,  landing  by  the  way  at  Ios,  he  fell  sick,  died, 
and  was  buried  on  the  seashore. 


OF  HOMER. 


Xlll 


The  ancients  held  the  memory  of  Homer  in  so 
much  veneration,  that  they  not  only  raised  temples 
and  altars  to  him,  but  offered  sacrifices,  and  wor¬ 
shipped  him  as  a  divinity.  The  inhabitants  of 
Chios  celebrated  festivals  in  his  honour  every  fifth 
year,  and  medals  were  struck,  which  represented 
him  sitting  on  a  throne,  holding  the  Iliad  and 
Odyssey. 

The  poetry  of  Homer  was  so  universally  ad¬ 
mired  in  ancient  times  that  every  man  of  learning 
was  able  to  repeat  with  facility  any  remarkable 
passage  in  either  of  his  celebrated  poems  ;  and  his 
testimony  was  considered  as  of  sufficient  authority 
to  settle  disputed  boundaries,  or  to  support  any 
argument.  Alexander  the  Great  was  so  fond  of 
Homer,  that  he  generally  placed  his  compositions 
under  his  pillow ;  and  he  carefully  deposited  the 
Iliad  in  one  of  the  most  valuable  caskets  of  Darius, 
observing  that  the  most  perfect  work  of-  human 
genius  was  well  worthy  of  a  receptacle  the  most 
precious  in  the  world. 

Pisistratus,  the  tyrant  of  Athens,  is  reported  to 
have  been  the  first  who  collected  the  Iliad  and 
Odyssey,  and  arranged  them  in  the  order  which 
they  now  exhibit.  These  incomparable  relics  of 
antiquity,  independent  of  their  poetical  excellences, 
are  evidently  the  productions  of  a  man  who  trav¬ 
elled,  and  examined  with  the  most  critical  accu- 


Xiv  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  HOMER. 

racy  whatever  was  most  remarkable  in  nature  or 
art.  Modern  travellers  are  astonished  to  see  the 
different  scenes  which  the  pen  of  Homer  described 
about  three  thousand  years  ago  still  existing  in 
the  same  unvaried  form ;  and  the  sailor,  who 
steers  his  course  along  the  iEgean,  sees  all  the 
promontories  and  rocks  which  appeared  to  the 
Greeks  when  they  returned  victorious  from  the 
Trojan  war. 


- 


.PREFACE. 


Homer  is  universally  allowed  to  have  had  the  greatest  inven¬ 
tion  of  any  writer  whatever.  The  praise  of  judgment  Virgil  has 
justly  contested  with  him,  and  others  may  have  their  preten¬ 
sions  as  to  particular  excellences ;  but  his  invention  remains 
unrivalled.  Nor  is  it  a  wonder  if  he  has  ever  been  acknow¬ 
ledged  the  greatest  of  poets,  who  most  excelled  in  that  which  is 
the  very  foundation  of  poetry.  It  is  the  invention  that  in  differ¬ 
ent  degrees  distinguishes  all  great  geniuses  :  the  utmost  stretch 
of  human  study,  learning,  and  industry,  which  masters  every¬ 
thing  besides,  can  never  attain  to  this.  It  furnishes  Art  with 
all  her  materials,  and  without  it  Judgment  itself  can  at  best  but 
steal  wisely  :  for  Art  is  only  like  a  prudent  steward,  that  lives 
on  managing  the  riches  of  Nature.  Whatever  praises  may  be 
given  to  works  of  judgment,  there  is  not  even  a  single  beauty  in 
them  to  which  the  invention  must  not  contribute:  as  in  the 
most  regular  gardens.  Art  can  only  reduce'the  beauties  of  Na¬ 
ture  to  more  regularity,  and  such  a  figure,  which  the  common 
eye  may  better  take  in,  and  is  therefore  more  entertained  with. 
And  perhaps  the  reason  why  common  critics  are  inclined  to  pre¬ 
fer  a  judicious  and  methodical  genius  to  a  great  and  fruitful  one 
is  because  they  find  it  easier  for  themselves  to  pursue  their  ob¬ 
servations  through  an  uniform  and  bounded  walk  of  Art,  than  to 
comprehend  the  vast  and  various  extent  of  Nature. 

Our  author’s  work  is  a  wild  paradise,  where,  if  we  cannot  see 
all  the  beauties  so  distinctly  as  in  an  ordered  garden,  it  is  only 
because  the  number  of  them  is  infinitely  greater.  It  is  like  a 
copious  nursery,  which  contains  the  seeds  and  first  productions 
of  every  kind,  out  of  which  those  who  followed  him  have  but  se¬ 
lected  some  particular  plants,  each  according  to  his  fancy,  to 
cultivate  and  beautify.  If  some  things  are  too  luxuriant,  it  is 
owing  to  the  richness  of  the  soil ;  and  if  others  are  not  arrived  to 
perfection  or  maturity,  it  is  only  because  they  are  overrun  and 
oppressed  by  those  of  a  stronger  nature. 

It  is  to  the  strength  of  this  amazing  invention  we  are  to  attrib¬ 
ute  that  unequalled  fire  and  rapture  which  is  so  forcible  in  Ho¬ 
mer,  that  no  man  of  a  true  poetical  spirit  is  master  of  himself 


XVI 


PREFACE 


while  he  reads  him.  What  he  writes  is  of  the  most  animated 
nature  imaginable  ;  everything  moves,  everything  lives,  and  is 
put  in  action.  If  a  council  be  called,  or  a  battle  fought,  you  are 
not  coldly  informed  of  what  was  said  or  done  as  from  a  third 
person  ;  the  reader  is  hurried  out  of  himself  by  the  force  of  the 
poet’s  imagination,  and  turns  in  one  place  to  a  hearer,  in  another 
to  a  spectator.  The  course  of  his  verses  resembles  that  of  the 
army  he  describes, 

Oi  5’  apy  icav,  wcrec  tc  nvpi  w aoa  vcpono : 

11  They  pour  along  like  a  fire  that  sweeps  the  whole  earth  before 
it.”  It  is,  however,  remarkable  that  his  fancy,  which  is  every¬ 
where  vigorous,  is  not  discovered  immediately  at  the  beginning 
of  his  poem  in  its  fullest  splendour  :  it  grows  in  the  progress 
both  on  himself  and  others,  and  becomes  on  fire,  like  a  chariot- 
wheel,  by  its  own  rapidity.  Exact  disposition,  just  thought, 
correct  elocution,  polished  numbers,  may  have  been  found  in  a 
thousand  ;  but  this  poetic  fire,  this  “vividavis  animi,”  in  a  very 
few.  Even  in  works  where  all  those  are  imperfect  or  neglected, 
this  can  overpower  criticism,  and  make  us  admire  even  while 
we  disapprove.  Nay,  where  this  appears,  though  attended  with 
absurdities,  it  brightens  all  the  rubbish  about  it,  till  we  see  no¬ 
thing  but  its  own  splendour.  This  fire  is  discerned  in  Virgil, 
but  discerned  as  through  a  glass,  reflected  from  Homer,  more 
shining  than  fierce,  but  everywhere  equal  and  constant :  in  Lu¬ 
can  and  Statius  it  bursts  out  in  sudden,  short,  and  interrupted 
flashes:  in  Milton  it  glows  like  a  furnace  kept  up  to  an  uncom¬ 
mon  ardour  by  the  force  of  art :  in  Shakspeare  it  strikes  before 
we  are  aware,  like  an  accidental  fire  from  heaven  :  but  in  Ho¬ 
mer,  and  in  him  only,  it  burns  everywhere  clearly  and  every¬ 
where  irresistibly. 

I  shall  here  endeavour  to  show  how  this  vast  invention  exerts 
itself  in  a  manner  superior  to  that  of  any  poet,  through  all  the 
main  constituent  parts  of  his  work,  as  it  is  the  great  and  pecu¬ 
liar  characteristic  which  distinguishes  him  from  all  other  authors. 

This  strong  and  ruling  faculty  was  like  a  powerful  star,  which, 
in  the  violence  of  its  course,  drew  all  things  within  its  vortex. 
It  seemed  not  enough  to  have  taken  in  the  whole  circle  of  arts, 
and  the  whole  compass  of  nature,  to  supply  his  maxims  and  re¬ 
flections  ;  all  the  inward  passions  and  affections  of  mankind,  to 
furnish  his  characters  ;  and  all  the  outward  forms  and  images 
of  things  for  his  descriptions  ;  but  wanting  yet  an  ampler  sphere 
to  expatiate  in,  he  opened  a  new  and  boundless  walk  for  his  im¬ 
agination,  and  created  a  world  for  himself  in  the  invention  of  fa 
ble.  That  which  Aristotle  calls  “the  soul  of  poetry,”  was  first 
breathed  into  it  by  Homer.  I  shall  begin  with  considering  him 


PREFACE. 


XVII 


in  this  part,  as  it  is  naturally  the  first ;  and  I  speak  of  it  both  as 
it  means  the  design  of  a  poem,  and  as  it  is  taken  for  fiction. 

Fable  may  be  divided  into  the  probable,  the  allegorical,  and 
the  marvellous.  The  probable  fable  is  the  recital  of  such  ac¬ 
tions  as,  though  they  did  not  happen,  yet  might,  in  the  common 
course  of  nature  ;  or  of  such  as,  though  they  did,  become  fables 
by  the  additional  episodes  and  manner  of  telling  them.  Of  this 
sort  is  the  main  story  of  an  epic  poem,  the  return  of  Ulysses,  the 
settlement  of  the  Trojans  in  Italy,  or  the  like.  That  of  the  Iliad 
is  the  anger  of  Achilles,  the  most  short  and  single  subject  that 
ever  was  chosen  by  any  poet.  Yet  this  he  has  supplied  with  a 
vaster  variety  of  incidents  and  events,  and  crowded  with  a  great¬ 
er  number  of  councils,  speeches,  battles,  and  episodes  of  all 
kinds,  than  are  to  be  found  even  in  those  poems  whose  schemes 
are  of  the  utmost  latitude  and  irregularity.  The  action  is  hur¬ 
ried  on  with  the  most  vehement  spirit,  and  its  whole  duration 
employs  not  so  much  as  fifty  days.  Virgil,  for  want  of  so  warm 
a  genius,  aided  himself  by  taking  in  a  more  extensive  subject,  as 
well  as  a  greater  length  of  time,  and  contracting  the  design  of 
both  Homer’s  poems  into  one,  which  is  yet  but  a  fourth  part  as 
large  as  his.  The  other  epic  poets  have  used  the  same  prac¬ 
tice,  but  generally  carried  it  so  far  as  to  superinduce  a  multi¬ 
plicity  of  fables,  destroy  the  unity  of  action,  and  lose  their 
readers  in  an  unreasonable  length  of  time.  Nor  is  it  only  in  the 
main  design  that  they  have  been  unable  to  add  to  his  invention, 
but  they  have  followed  him  in  every  episode  and  part  of  story. 
If  he  has  given  a  regular  catalogue  of  an  army,  they  all  draw  up 
their  forces  in  the  same  order.  If  he  has  funeral  games  for 
Patroclus,  Virgil  has  the  same  for  Anchises ;  and  Statius,  rather 
than  omit  them,  destroys  the  unity  of  his  action  for  those  of 
Archemorus.  If  Ulysses  visit  the  shades,  the  .Eneas  of  Virgil, 
and  Scipio  of  Silius,  are  sent  after  him  If  he  be  detained 
from  his  return  by  the  allurements  of  Calypso,  so  is  Eneas  by 
Dido,  and  Rinaldo  by  Armida.  If  Achilles  be  absent  from  the 
army  on  the  score  of  a  quarrel  through  half  the  poem,  Rinaldo 
must  absent  himself  just  as  long,  on  the  like  account.  It  he 
gives  his  hero  a  suit  of  celestial  armour,  Virgil  and  Tasso  make 
the  same  present  to  theirs.  Virgil  has  not  only  observed  this 
close  imitation  of  Homer,  but.,  where  he  had  not  led  the  way, 
supplied  the  want  from  other  Greek  authors.  Thus  the  story  of 
Sinon  and  the  taking  of  Troy  was  copied,  says  Macrubius, 
almost  word  for  word  from  Pisander,  as  the  loves  of  Dido  and 
Eneas  are  taken  from  those  of  Medea  and  Jason  in  Apollonius, 
and  several  others  in  the  same  manner. 

To  proceed  to  the  allegorical  fable :  if  we  reflect  on  those 
innumerable  knowledges,  those  secrets  of  nature  and  physical 
philosophy,  which  Homer  is  generally  supposed  to  have  wrapped 


XV11L 


PREFACE 


up  in  his  allegories,  what  a  new  and  ample  scene  of  wonder 
may  this  consideration  afford  us  !  how  fertile  will  that  imagin¬ 
ation  appear,  which  was  able  to  clothe  all  the  properties  of  ele¬ 
ments,  the  qualifications  of  the  mind,  the  virtues  and  vices,  in 
forms  and  persons  ;  and  to  introduce  them  into  actions  agreeable 
to  the  nature  of  the  things  they  shadowed  !  This  is  a  field  in 
which  no  succeeding  poets  could  dispute  with  Homer;  and 
whatever  commendations  have  been  allowed  them  on  this  head, 
are  by  no  means  for  their  invention  in  having  enlarged  his  circle, 
but  for  their  judgment  in  having  contracted  it.  For  when  the 
mode  of  learning  changed  in  following  ages,  and  science  was 
delivered  in  a  plainer  manner,  it  then  became  as  reasonable  in 
the  more  modern  poets  to  lay  it  aside,  as  it.  was  in  Homer  to 
make  use  of  it.  And  perhaps  it  was  no  unhappy  circumstance 
for  Virgil,  that  there  was  not  in  his  time  that  demand  on  him  of 
so  great  an  invention,  as  might  be  capable  of  furnishing  all  those 
allegorical  parts  of  a  poem. 

The  marvellous  fable  includes  whatever  is  supernatural,  and 
especially  the  machines  of  the  gods.  He  seems  the  first  who 
brought  them  into  a  system  of  machinery  for  poetry,  and  such  a 
one  as  makes  its  greatest  importance  and  dignity  :  for  we  find 
those  authors  who  have  been  offended  at  the  literal  notion  of 
the  gods,  constantly  laying  their  accusation  against  Homer  as 
the  chief  support  of  it.  But  whatever  cause  there  might  be  to 
blame  his  machines  in  a  philosophical  or  religious  view,  they 
are  so  perfect  in  the  poetic,  that  mankind  have  been  ever  since 
contented  to  follow  them :  none  have  been  able  to  enlarge  the 
sphere  of  poetry  beyond  the  limits  he  has  set :  every  attempt  of 
this  nature  has  proved  unsuccessful ;  and  after  all  the  various 
changes  of  times  and  religions,  his  gods  continue  to  this  day  the 
gods  of  poetry. 

We  come  now  to  the  characters  of  his  persons ;  and  here  we 
shall  find  no  author  has  ever  drawn  so  many,  with  so  visible  and 
surprising  a  variety,  or  given  us  such  lively  and  affecting  im¬ 
pressions  of  them.  Every  one  has  something  so  singularly  his 
own,  that  no  painter  could  have  distinguished  them  more  by 
their  features  than  the  poet  has  by  their  manners.  Nothing  can 
be  more  exact  than  the  distinctions  he  has  observed  in  the  dif¬ 
ferent  degrees  of  virtues  and  vices.  The  single  quality  of  cour¬ 
age  is  wonderfully  diversified  in  the  several  characters  of  the 
Iliad.  That  of  Achilles  is  furious  and  untractable  ;  that  of  Dio¬ 
mede  forward,  yet  listening  to  advice  and  subject  to  command  ; 
that  of  A  jax  is  heavy,  and  self  confiding ;  of  Hector,  active  and 
vigilant ;  the  courage  of  Agamemnon  is  inspirited  by  love  of  em 
pire  and  ambition;  that  of  Menelaus  mixed  with  softness  and 
tenderness  for  his  people :  we  find  in  Idomeneus  a  plain  direct 
soldier;  in  Sarpedon,  a  gallant  and  generous  one.  Nor  is  this 


PREFACE. 


XIX 


judicious  and  astonishing  diversity  to  be  found  only  in  the  prin¬ 
cipal  quality  which  constitutes  the  main  of  each  character,  but 
even  in  the  under  parts  of  it,  to  which  he  takes  care  to  give  a 
tincture  of  that  principal  one.  For  example,  the  main  charac¬ 
ters  of  Ulysses  and  Nestor  consist  in  wisdom  ;  and  they  are  dis¬ 
tinct  in  this,  that  the  wisdom  of  one  is  artificial  and  various,  of 
the  other,  natural,  open,  and  regular.  But  they  have,  besides, 
characters  of  courage ;  and  this  quality  also  takes  a  different 
turn  in  each  from  the  difference  of  his  prudence :  for  one  in 
the  war  depends  still  on  caution,  the  other  on  experience.  It 
would  be  endless  to  produce  instances  of  these  kinds.  The 
characters  of  Virgil  are  far  from  striking  us  in  this  open  man¬ 
ner;  they  lie  in  a  great  degree  bidden  and  undistinguished,  and, 
where  they  are  marked  most  evidently,  affect  us  not  in  propor¬ 
tion  to  those  of  Homer.  His  characters  of  valour  are  much 
alike;  even  that  of  Turnus  seems  no  way  peculiar,  but  as  it  is 
in  a  superior  degree  ;  and  we  see  nothing  that  differences  the 
courage  of  Mnestheus  from  that  of  Sergesthus,  Cloanthus,  or  the 
rest.  In  like  manner  it  may  be  remarked  of  Statius’  heroes,  that 
an  air  of  impetuosity  runs  through  them  all ;  the  same  horrid  and 
savage  courage  appears  in  his  Capaneus,  Tydeus,  Hippomedon, 
&c.  They  have  a  parity  of  character,  which  makes  them  seem 
brothers  of  one  family.  I  believe,  when  the  reader  is  led  into 
this  track  of  reflection,  if  he  will  pursue  it  through  the  epic  and 
tragic  writers,  he  will  be  convinced  how  infinitely  superior  in 
this  point  the  invention  of  Homer  was  to  that  of  all  others. 

The  speeches  are  to  be  considered  as  they  flow  from  the 
characters,  being  perfect  or  defective  as  they  agree  or  disagree 
with  the  manners  of  those  who  utter  them.  As  there  is  more 
variety  of  characters  in  the  Iliad,  so  there  is  of  speeches,  than 
in  any  other  poem.  Everything  in  it  has  manners,  as  Aristotle 
expresses  it ;  that  is,  everything  is  acted  or  spoken.  It  is 
hardly  credible,  in  a  work  of  such  length,  how  small  a  number 
of  lines  are  employed  in  narration.  In  Virgil,  the  dramatic  part 
is  less  in  proportion  to  the  narrative  ;  and  the  speeches  often 
consist  of  general  reflections  or  thoughts,  which  might  he 
equally  just  in  any  person’s  mouth  on  the  same  occasion.  As 
many  of  his  persons  have  no  apparent  characters,  so  many  of 
his  speeches  escape  being  applied  and  judged  by  the  rule  of  pro- 

O.  We  oftener  think  of  the  author  himself  when  we  read 
,  than  when  we  are  engaged  in  Homer  :  all  which  are  the 
effects  of  a  colder  invention,  that  interests  us  less  in  the  ac¬ 
tion  described  :  Homer  makes  us  hearers,  and  Virgil  leaves  us 
readers. 

If  in  the  next  place  we  take  a  view  of  the  sentiments,  the 
same  presiding  faculty  is  eminent  in  the  sublimity  and  spirit  of 
his  thoughts.  Longinus  has  given  his  opinion,  that  it  was  in 


XX 


PREFACE. 


this  part  Homer  principally  excelled.  What  were  alone  suffi¬ 
cient  to  prove  the  grandeur  and  excellence  of  his  sentiments  in 
general,  is,  that  they  have  so  remarkable  a  parity  with  those  of 
the  Scripture :  Duport,  in  his  Gnomolgia  Homerica,  has  col¬ 
lected  innumerable  instances  of  this  sort.  And  it  is  with  justice 
an  excellent  modern  writer  allows,  that  if  Virgil  has  not  so 
many  thoughts  that  are  low  and  vulgar,  he  has  not  so  many 
that  are  sublime  and  noble;  and  that  the  Roman  author  seldom 
rises  into  very  astonishing  sentiments,  where  he  is  not  fired  by 
the  Iliad. 

If  we  observe  his  descriptions,  images,  and  similes,  we  shall 
find  the  invention  still  predominant.  To  what  else  can  we  as¬ 
cribe  that  vast  comprehension  of  images  of  every  sort,  where  we 
see  each  circumstance  of  art,  and  individual  of  nature,  sum¬ 
moned  together  by  the  extent  and  fecundity  of  his  imagination  ; 
to  which  all  things,  in  their  various  views,  presented  themselves 
in  an  instant,  and  had  their  impressions  taken  off  to  perfection, 
at  a  heat  ?  Nay,  he  not  only  gives  us  the  full  prospects  of 
things,  but  several  unexpected  peculiarities  and  side  views,  un¬ 
observed  by  any  painter  but  Homer.  Nothing  is  so  surprising 
as  the  descriptions  of  his  battles,  which  take  up  no  less  than 
half  the  Iliad,  and  are  supplied  with  so  vast  a  variety  of  inci¬ 
dents,  that  no  one  bears  a  likeness  to  another  ;  such  different 
kinds  of  deaths,  that  no  two  heroes  are  wounded  in  the  same 
manner;  and  such  a  profusion  of  noble  ideas,  that  every  battle 
rises  above  the  last  in  greatness,  horror,  and  confusion.  It  is 
certain  there  is  not  near  that  number  of  images  and  descriptions 
in  any  epic  poet ;  though  every  one  has  assisted  himself  with  a 
great  quantity  out  of  him  :  and  it  is  evident  ot  Viigil  especially, 
that  he  has  scarce  any  comparisons  which  are  not  drawn  from 
his  master. 

If  we  descend  from  hence  to  the  expression,  we  seethe  bright 
imagination  of  Homer  shining  out  in  the  most  enlivened  forms 
of  it.  We  acknowledge  him  the  father  of  poetical  diction,  the 
first  who  taught  that  language  of  the  gods  to  men.  His  expres¬ 
sion  is  like  the  colouring  of  some  great  masters,  which  discovers 
itself  to  be  laid  on  boldly,  and  executed  with  rapidity.  It  is  in¬ 
deed  the  strongest  and  most  glowing  imaginable,  and  touched 
with  the  greatest  spirit.  Aristotle  had  reason  to  say,  he  was 
the  only  poet  who  had  found  out  living  words  ;  there  are  in  him 
more  daring  figures  and  metaphors  than  in  any  good  author 
whatever.  An  arrow  is  impatient  to  be  on  the  wing,  a  weapon 
thirsts  to  drink  the  blood  of  an  enemy,  and  the  like.  Yet  his 
expression  is  never  too  big  for  the  sense,  but  justly  great  in  pro¬ 
portion  to  it.  It  is  the  sentiment  that  swells  and  fills  out  the 
diction,  which  rises  with  it,  and  forms  itself  about  it :  for  in  the 
same  degree  that  a  thought  is  warmer,  an  expression  will  be 


PREFACE 


XXI 


brighter;  as  that  is  more  strong,  this  will  become  more  per¬ 
spicuous  :  like  glass  in  the  furnace,  which  grows  to  a  greater 
magnitude  and  refines  to  a  greater  clearness,  only  as  the  breath 
within  is  more  powerful,  and  the  heat  more  intense. 

To  throw  his  language  more  out  of  prose,  Homer  seems  to 
have  affected  the  compound  epithets.  This  was  a  sort  of  com¬ 
position  peculiarly  proper  to  poetry,  not  only  as  it  heightened 
the  diction,  but  as  it  assisted  and  filled  the  numbers  with  greater 
sound  and  pomp,  and  likewise  conduced  in  some  measure  to 
thicken  the  images.  On  this  last  consideration  I  cannot  but 
attribute  these  also  to  the  fruitfulness  of  his  invention,  since,  as 
he  has  managed  them,  they  are  a  sort  of  supernumeihry  pictures 
of  the  persons  or  things  to  which  they  are  joined.  We  see  the 
motion  of  Hector’s  plumes  in  the  epithet  KopvOaio\os,  the  land¬ 
scape  of  Mount  Neritus  in  that  of  eivoaicpvWos,  and  so  of  others  ; 
which  particular  images  could  not  have  been  insisted  on  so 
long  as  to  express  them  in  a  description,  though  but  of  a  single 
line,  without  diverting  the  reader  too  much  from  the  principal 
action  or  figure.  As  a  metaphor  is  a  short  simile,  one  of  these 
epithets  is  a  short  description. 

Lastly,  if  we  consider  his  versification,  we  shall  be  sensible 
what  a  share  of  praise  is  due  to  his  invention  in  that.  He  was 
not  satisfied  with  his  language  as  he  found  it  settled  in  any  one 
part  of  Greece,  but  searched  through  its  differing  dialects  with 
this  particular  view,  to  beautify  and  perfect  his  numbers :  he 
considered  these*as  they  had  a  greater  mixture  of  vowels  or 
consonants,  and  accordingly  employed  them  as  the  verse  re¬ 
quired  either  a  greater  smoothness  or  strength.  What  he  most 
affected  was  the  Ionic,  which  has  a  peculiar  sweetness  from  its 
never  using  contractions,  and  from  its  custom  of  resolving  the 
dipthongs  into  two  syllables,  so  as  to  make  the  words  open 
themselves  with  a  more  spreading  and  sonorous  fluency.  With 
this  he  mingled  the  Attic  contractions,  the  broader  Doric,  and 
the  feebler  iEolic,  which  often  rejects  its  aspirate,  or  takes  off 
its  accent;  and  completed  this  variety  by  altering  some  letters 
with  the  license  of  poetry.  Thus  his  measures,  instead  of  be¬ 
ing  fetters  to  his  sense,  were  always  in  readiness  to  run  along 
with  the  warmth  of  his  rapture,  and  even  to  give  a  further  rep¬ 
resentation  of  his  notions,  in  the  correspondence  of  their  sounds 
to  what  they  signified.  Out  of  all  these  he  has  derived  that 
harmony,  which  makes  us  confess  he  had  not  only  the  richest 
head,  but  the  finest  ear  in  the  world.  This  is  so  great  a  truth, 
that  whoever  will  but  consult  the  tune  of  his  verses,  even  with¬ 
out  understanding  them,  with  the  same  sort  of  diligence  as  we 
daily  see  practised  in  the  case  of  Italian  operas,  will  find  more 
sweetness,  variety,  and  majesty  of  sounds  than  in  any  other  lan¬ 
guage  or  poetry.  The  beauty  of  his  numbers  is  allowed  by  the 
critics  to  be  copied  but  faintly  by  Virgil  himself,  though  they  are 


XXII 


PREFACE. 


so  just  as  to  ascribe  it  to  the  nature  of  the  Latin  tongue :  indeed 
the  Greek  has  some  advantages,  both  from  the  natural  sound  of 
its  words,  and  the  turn  and  cadence  of  its  verse,  which  agrpe 
with  the  genius  of  no  other  language.  Virgil  was  very  sensible 
of  this,  and  used  the  utmost  diligence  in  working  up  a  more  in¬ 
tractable  language  to  whatsoever  graces  it  was  capable  of;  and, 
In  particular,  never  failed  to  bring  the  sound  of  his  line  to  a 
beautiful  agreement  with  its  sense.  If  the  Urecianpoet  has  not 
been  so  frequently  celebrated  on  this  account  as  the  Roman,  t  he 
only  reason  is,  that  fewer  critics  have  understood  one  language 
than  the  other.  Dionysius  of  Halicarnassus  has  pointed  out 
many  of  our  author’s  beauties  in  this  kind,  in  his  treatise  of  the 
Composition  of  Words.  It  suffices  at  present,  to  observe  of  his 
numbers,  that  they  flow  with  so  much  ease,  as  to  make  one 
imagine  Homer  had  no  other  care  than  to  transcribe  as  fast  as 
the  muses  dictated ;  and  at  the  same  time  with  so  much  force 
and  inspiriting  vigour,  that  they  awaken  and  raise  us  like  the 
sound  of  a  trumpet.  They  roll  along  as  a  plentiful  river,  always 
in  motion,  and  always  full  ;  while  we  are  borne  away  by  a  tide 
of  verse,  the  most  rapid,  and  yet  the  most  smooth  imaginable. 

Thus,  on  whatever  side  we  contemplate  Homer,  what  prin¬ 
cipally  strikes  us  is  his  invention.  It  is  that  which  forms  the 
character  of  each  part  of  his  work  ;  and  accordingly  we  find  it 
to  have  made  his  fable  more  extensive  and  copious  than  any 
other,  his  manners  more  lively  and  strongly  marked,  his 
speeches  more  affecting  and  transported,  hiS  sentiments  more 
warm  and  sublime,  his  images  and  descriptions  more  full  and 
animated,  his  expression  more  raised  and  daring,  and  bis  num¬ 
bers  more  rapid  and  various.  1  hope  in  what  has  been  said  of 
Virgil,  with  regard  to  any  of  these  heads,  I  have  no  way  dero¬ 
gated  from  his  character.  Nothing  is  more  absurd  or  endless, 
than  the  common  method  of  comparing  eminent  writers  by  an 
opposition  of  particular  passages  in  them,  and  forming  a  judg¬ 
ment  from  thence  of  their  merit  on  the  whole.  We  ought  to 
have  a  certain  knowledge  of  the  principal  character  and  distin¬ 
guishing  excellence  of  each  :  it  is  in  that  we  are  to  consider  him, 
and  in  proportion  to  his  degree  in  that  we  are  to  admire  him. 
No  author  or  man  ever  excelled  all  the  world  in  more  than  one 
faculty  ;  and  as  Homer  has  done  this  in  invention,  Virgil  has  in 
judgment.  Not  that  we  are  to  think  Homer  wanted  judgment, 
because  Virgil  had  it  in  a  more  eminent  degree ;  or  that  Virgil 
wanted  invention,  because  Homer  possessed  a  larger  share  of  it : 
each  of  these  great  authors  had  more  of  both  than  perhaps  any 
man  beside,  and  are  only  said  to  have  less  in  comparison  with 
one  another.  Homer  was  the  greater  genius,  Virgil  the  bettor 
artist.  Jn  one  we  most  admire  the  man,  in  the  other  the  work  : 
Homer  hurries  and  transports  us  with  a  commanding  impetuos¬ 
ity,  Virgil  leads  us  with  an  attractive  majesty  ;  Homer  scatters 


PREFACE. 


XXI 11 


with  a  generous  profusion.  Virgil  bestows  with  a  careful  mag¬ 
nificence  ;  Homer,  like  the  Nile,  pours  out  his  riches  with  a 
boundless  overflow  ;  Virgil,  like  a  river  in  its  banks,  with  a 
gentle  and  constant  stream.  When  we  behold  their  battles, 
methinks  the  two  poets  resemble  the  heroes  they  celebrate  : 
Homer,  boundless  and  irresistible  as  Achilles,  bears  all  before 
him,  and  shines  more  and  more  as  the  tumult,  increases  ;  Vir¬ 
gil,  calmly  daring  like  Aliens,  appears  undisturbed  in  the  midst 
of  the  action,  disposes  all  about  him,  and  conquers  with  tran¬ 
quillity.  And  when  we  look  on  their  machines,  Homer  seems 
like  his  own  Jupiter  in  his  terrors,  shaking  Olympus,  scattering 
the  lightnings,  and  firing  the  heavens;  Virgil,  like  the  same 
power  in  his  benevolence,  counselling  with  the  gods,  laying 
plans  for  empires,  and  regularly  ordering  his  whole  creation. 

But  after  all.  it  is  with  great  parts  as  with  great  virtues,  they 
naturally  border  on  some  imperfection  ;  and  it  is  often  hard  to 
distinguish  exactly  where  the  virtue  ends,  or  the  fault  begins. 
As  prudence  may  sometimes  sink  to  suspicion,  so  may  a  great 
judgment  decline  to  coldness;  and  as  magnanimity  may  run  up 
to  profusion  or  extravagance,  so  may  a  great  invention  to  redun¬ 
dancy  or  wildness.  If  we  look  on  Homer  in  this  view,  we  shall 
perceive  the  chief  objections  against  him  to  proceed  from  so  no 
ble  a  cause  as  the  excess  of  this  faculty. 

Among  these  we  may  reckon  some  of  his  marvellous  fictions, 
on  which  so  much  criticism  has  been  spent,  as  surpassing  all 
the  bounds  of  probability.  Perhaps  it  may  be  with  great  and 
superior  souls  as  with  gigantic  bodies,  which,  exerting  them¬ 
selves  with  unusual  strength,  exceed  what  is  commonly  thought 
the  due  proportion  of  parts,  to  become  miracles  m  the  whole  ; 
and,  like  the  old  heroes  of  that  make,  commit  something  near 
extravagance,  amid  a  series  of  glorious  and  inimitable  perform¬ 
ances.  Thus  Homer  has  his  speaking  horses,  and  Virgil  his 
myrtles  distilling  blood,  where  the  latter  has  not  so  much  as 
contrived  the  easy  intervention  of  a  deity  to  save  the  proba¬ 
bility. 

it  is  owing  to  the  same  vast  invention  that  his  similes  have 
been  thought  too  exuberant  and  full  of  circumstances.  The 
force  of  this  faculty  is  seen  in  nothing  more  than  in  its  inability 
to  confine  itself  to  that  single  circumstance  on  which  the  com¬ 
parison  is  grounded :  it  runs  out  into  embellishments  of  addi¬ 
tional  images,  which,  however,  are  so  managed  as  not  to  over¬ 
power  the  main  one.  His  similes  are  like  pictures,  where  the 
principal  figure  has  not  only  its  proportion  given  agreeable  to 
the  original,  but  is  also  set  off  with  occasional  ornaments  and 
prospects.  The  same  will  account  for  his  manner  of  heaping  a 
number  of  comparisons  together  in  one  breath,  when  his  fancy 
suggested  to  him  at  once  so  many  various  and  correspondent 


XXIV 


PREFACE. 


images.  The  reader  will  easily  extend  this  observation  to  more 
objections  of  the  same  kind. 

If  there  are  others  which  seem  rather  to  charge  him  with  a 
defect  or  narrowness  of  genius  than  an  excess  of  it,  those  seem¬ 
ing  defects  will  be  found  on  examination  to  proceed  wholly  from 
the  nature  of  the  times  he  lived  in.  Such  are  his  grosser  rep¬ 
resentations  of  the  gods,  and  the  vicious  and  imperfect  manners 
of  his  heroes.  But  I  must  here  speak  a  word  of  the  latter,  as 
it  is  a  point  generally  carried  into  extremes,  both  by  the  cen- 
surers  and  defenders  of  Homer.  It  must  be  a  strange  partiality 
to  antiquity,  to  think,  with  Madame  Dacier,  “  that  those  times 
and  manners  are  so  much  more  excellent,  as  they  are  more  con¬ 
trary  to  ours.”*  Who  can  be  so  prejudiced  in  their  favour  as  to 
magnify  the  felicity  of  those  ages,  when  a  spirit  of  revenge  and 
cruelty,  joined  with  the  practice  of  rapine  and  robbery,  reigned 
through  the  world;  when  no  mercy  was  shown,  but  for  the 
sake  of  lucre  ;  when  the  greatest  princes  were  put  to  the  sword, 
and  their  wives  and  daughters  made  slaves  and  concubines? 
On  the  other  side,  I  would  not  be  so  delicate  as  those  modern 
critics,  who  are  shocked  at  the  servile  offices  and  mean  em¬ 
ployments  in  which  we  sometimes  see  the  heroes  of  Homer 
engaged.  There  is  a  pleasure  in  taking  a  view  of  that  simplici¬ 
ty  in  opposition  to  the  luxury  of  succeeding  ages,  in  beholding 
monarchs  without  their  guards,  princes  tending  their  flocks,  and 
princesses  drawing  water  from  the  springs.  When  we  read 
Homer,  we  ought  to  reflect  that  we  are  reading  the  most  an¬ 
cient  author  in  the  heathen  world ;  and  those  who  consider  him 
in  this  light,  will  double  their  pleasure  in  the  perusal  of  him. 
Let  them  think  they  are  growing  acquainted  with  nations  and 
people  that  are  now  no  more ;  that  they  are  stepping  almost 
three  thousand  yetrs  back  into  the  remotest  antiquity,  and  en¬ 
tertaining  themselves  with  a  clear  and  surprising  vision  of  things 
nowhere  else  to  be  found,  the  only  true  mirror  of  that  ancient 
world.  By  this  means  alone  their  greatest  obstacles  will  van¬ 
ish  ;  and  what  usually  creates  their  dislike  will  become  a  satis¬ 
faction. 

This  consideration  may  further  serve  to  answer  for  the  con¬ 
stant  use  of  the  same  epithets  to  his  gods  and  heroes,  such  as 
the  far-darting  Phcebus,  the  blue-eyed  Pallas,  the  swift-footed 
Achilles,  &c.,  which  some  have  censured  as  impertinent  and 
tediously  repeated.  Those  of  the  gods  depended  on  the  powers 
and  offices  then  believed  to  belong  to  them,  and  had  contracted 
a  weight  and  veneration  from  the  rites  and  solemn  devotions  in 
which  they  were  used  :  they  were  a  sort  ot  attributes  with 
which  it  was  a  matter  of  religion  to  salute  them  on  all  occasions, 
and  which  it  was  an  irreverence  to  omit.  As  for  the  epithets 


*  Preface  to  her  Homer. 


PREFACE 


XXV 


rf  great  men,  Monsieur  Boileau  is  of  opinion  that  they  were  in 
the  nature  of  surnames,  and  repeated  as  such;  for  the  Greeks, 
h  iviag  no  names  derived  from  their  fathers,  were  obliged  to  add 
some  other  distinction  of  each  person  ;  either  naming  his  parents 
e\ptessly,  or  his  place  of  birth,  profession,  or  the  like:  as  Alex- 
an  lei  the  son  of  Philip,  Herodotus  of  Halicarnassus,  Diogenes 
ihe  Cynic,  &c.  Homer,  therefore,  complying  with  the  custom 
of  his  country,  used  such  distinctive  additions  as  better  agreed 
with  poetry.  And  indeed  we  have  something  parallel  to  these 
in  modern  times,  such  as  the  names  of  Harold  Harefoot,  Ed¬ 
mund  Ironside,  Edward  Longshanks,  Edward  the  Black 
Prince,  &c.  I  f  yet  this  be  thought  to  account  better  for  the  pro¬ 
priety  than  the  repetition,  I  shall  add  a  further  conjecture. 
Hesiod,  dividing  the  world  into  its  different  ages,  has  placed  a 
fourth  age  between  the  brazen  and  the  iron  one,  of  “  Heroes 
distinct  from  other  men  ;  a  divine  race  who  fought  at  Thebes 
and  Trov,  are  called  demi-gods,  and  live  by  the  care  of  Jupiter 
in  the  islands  of  the  blessed. ”*  Now  among  the  divine  honours 
which  were  paid  them,  they  might  have  this  also  in  common 
with  the  gods,  not  to  be  mentioned  without  the  solemnity  of  an 
epithet,  and  such  as  might  be  acceptable  to  them  by  its  cele¬ 
brating  their  families,  actions,  or  qualities. 

What  other  cavils  have  been  raised  against  Homer  are  such 
as  hardly  deserve  a  reply,  but  will  yet  be  taken  notice  of  as  they 
occur  in  the  course  of  the  work.  Many  have  been  occasioned 
by  an  injudicious  endeavour  to  exalt  Virgil ;  which  is  much  the 
same  as  if  one  should  think  to  raise  the  superstructure  by  un¬ 
dermining  the  foundation :  one  would  imagine  by  the  whole 
course  of  their  parallels,  that  these  critics  never  so  much  as 
neard  of  Homer’s  having  written  first ;  a  consideration  which 
whoever  compares  these  two  poets  ought  to  have  always  in  his 
eye.  Some  accuse  him  for  the  same  things  which  they  over¬ 
look  or  praise  in  the  other ;  as  when  they  prefer  the  fable  and 
moral  of  the  ^Eneid  to  those  of  the  Iliad,  for  the  same  reason 
which  might  set  the  Odyssey  above  the  iEneid :  as  that  the 
hero  is  a  wiser  man  ;  and  the  action  of  the  one  more  beneficial 
to  his  country  than  that  of  the  other :  or  else  they  blame  him  for 
not  doing  what  he  never  designed  ;  as  because  Achilles  is  not  as 
good  and  perfect  a  prince  as  ^Eneas,  when  the  very  moral  of  his 
poem  required  a  contrary  character :  it  is  thus  that  Rapin  judges 
m  his  comparison  of  Homer  and  Virgil.  Others  select  those 
particular  passages  of  Homer  which  are  not  so  laboured  as  some 
that  Virgil  drew  out  of  them  :  this  is  the  whole  management  of 
Scaliger  in  his  Poetices.  Others  quarrel  with  what  they  take 
for  low  and  mean  expressions,  sometimes  through  a  false  deli¬ 
cacy  and  refinement,  oftener  from  an  ignorance  of  the  graces  of 

*  Hesiod,  i.,  155,  &c. 

HOM. — HI. C 


xxw 


PREFACE 


the  original ;  and  then  triumph  in  the  awkwardness  of  their 
own  translations :  this  is  the  conduct  of  Perault  in  his  Paral¬ 
lels.  Lastly,  there  are  others,  who,  pretending  to  a  fairer  pro¬ 
ceeding,  distinguish  between  the  personal  merit  of  Homer  and 
that  of  his  work  ;  but  when  they  come  to  assign  the  causes  of 
the  great  reputation  of  the  Iliad,  they  found  it  on  the  ignorance 
of  his  times  and  the  prejudice  of  those  that  followed  :  and  in 
pursuance  of  this  principle,  they  make  those  accidents,  such  as 
the  contention  of  the  cities,  &c.,  to  be  the  causes  of  his  fame, 
which  were  in  reality  the  consequences  of  his  merit.  The  same 
might  as  well  be  said  of  Virgil  or  any  great  author,  whose  gen¬ 
eral  character  will  infallibly  raise  many  casual  additions  to  their 
reputation.  This  is  the  method  of  Monsieur  de  la  Motte ;  who 
yet  confesses,  on  the  whole,  that  in  whatever  age  Homer  had 
lived,  he  must  have  been  the  greatest  poet  of  his  nation,  and 
that  he  may  be  said  in  this  sense  to  be  the  master  even  of  those 
who  surpassed  him. 

In  all  these  objections  we  see  nothing  that  contradicts  his  title 
to  the  honour  of  the  chief  invention  ;  and  as  long  as  this,  which 
is  indeed  the  characteristic  of  poetry  itself,  remains  unequalled 
by  his  followers,  he  still  continues  superior  to  them.  A  cooler 
judgment  may  commit  fewer  faults,  and  be  more  approved  in  the 
eyes  of  one  sort  of  critics :  but  that  warmth  of  fancy  will  carry 
the  loudest  and  most  universal  applauses,  which  holds  the 
heart  of  a  reader  under  the  strongest  enchantment.  Homer  not 
only  appears  the  inventor  of  poetry,  but  excels  all  the  inventors 
of  other  arts  in  this,  that  he  has  swallowed  up  the  honour  of 
.those  who  succeeded  him.  What  he  has  done  admitted  no  in- 
•crease,  it  only  left  room  for  contraction  or  regulation.  He 
showed  all  the  stretch  of  fancy  at  once  ;  and  if  he  has  failed  in 
some  of  his  flights,  it  was  but  because  he  attempted  everything. 
A  work  of  this  kind  seems  like  a  mighty  tree  which  rises  from 
,  the  most  vigorous  seed,  is  improved  with  industry,  flourishes  and 
produces  the  finest  fruit ;  nature  and  art  conspire  to  raise  it ; 
•.pleasure  and  profit  join  to  make  it  valuable :  and  they  who  find 
the  justest  faults  have  only  said,  that  a  few  branches,  which  run 
•  luxuriant  through  a  richness  of  nature,  might  be  lopped  into 
form  to  give  it  a  more  regular  appearance. 

Having  now  spoken  of  the  beauties  and  defects  of  the  original, 
it  remains  to  treat  of  the  translation,  with  the  same  view  to  the 
chief  characteristic.  As  far  as  that  is  seen  in  the  main  parts  of 
■  the.  poem,  such  as  the  fable,  manners,  and  sentiments,  no  trans¬ 
lator  can  prejudice  it  but  by  wilful  omissions  or  contractions. 
As  it  also  breaks  out  in  every  particular  image,  description,  and 
simile;  whoever  lessens  or  too  much  softens  those,  takes  off 
from  this  chief  character.  It  is  the  first  grand  duty  of  an  inter¬ 
preter  to  give  his  author  entire  and  unmaimed ;  and  for  the  rest, 
the  diction  and  versification  only  are  his  proper  province,  since 


PREFACE 


XXVll 


these  must  be  his  own ;  but  the  others,  he  is  to  take  as  he  finds 
them. 

It  should  then  be  considered  what  methods  may  afford  some 
equivalent  in  our  language  for  the  graces  of  these  in  the  Greek, 

It  is  certain  no  literal  translation  can  be  just  to  an  excellent 
original  in  a  superior  language :  but  it  is  a  great  mistake  to  ima¬ 
gine,  as  many  have  done,  that  a  rash  paraphrase  can  make 
amends  for  this  general  defect ;  which  is  no  less  in  danger  to 
lose  the  spirit  of  an  ancient,  by  deviating  into  the  modern  man¬ 
ners  of  expression.  If  there  be  sometimes  a  darkness,  there  is 
often  a  light  in  antiquity,  which  nothing  better  preserves  than  a 
version  almost  literal.  I  know  no  liberties  one  ought  to  take, 
but  those  which  are  necessary  for  transfusing  the  spirit  of  the 
original,  and  supporting  the  poetical  style  of  the  translation  : 
and  I  will  venture  to  say,  there  have  not  been  more  men  misled 
in  former  times  by  a  servile  dull  adherence  to  the  letter,  than 
have  been  deluded  in  ours  by  a  chimerical  insolent  hope  of  rais¬ 
ing  and  improving  their  author.  It  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  the 
fire  of  the  poem  is  what  a  translator  should  principally  regard, 
as  it  is  most  likely  to  expire  in  his  managing  :  however,  it  is 
his  safest  way  to  be  content  with  preserving  this  to  his  utmost  * 
in  the  whole,  without  endeavouring  to  be  more  than  he  finds  his 
author  is,  in  any  particular  place.  It  is  a  great  secret  in  wri¬ 
ting  to  know  when  to  be  plain,  and  when  poetical  and  figura¬ 
tive  ;  and  it  is  what  Homer  will  teach  us,  if  we  will  but  follow 
modestly  in  his  footsteps.  Where  his  diction  is  bold  and  lofty, 
let  us  raise  ours  as  high  as  we  can ;  but  where  his  is  plain  and 
humble,  we  ought  not  to  be  deterred  from  imitating  him  by  the 
fear  of  incurring  the  censure  of  a  mere  English  critic.  Nothing 
that  belongs  to  Homer  seems  to  have  been  more  commonly  mis¬ 
taken  than  the  just  pitch  of  his  style :  some  of  his  translators 
have  swelled  into  fustian  in  a  proud  confidence  of  the  sublime ; 
others  sunk  into  flatness  in  a  cold  and  timorous  notion  of  sim¬ 
plicity.  Methinks  I  see  these  different  followers  of  Homer, 
some  sweating  and  straining  after  him  by  violent  leaps  and 
bounds,  the  certain  signs  of  false  mettle ;  others  slowly  and  ser¬ 
vilely  creeping  in  his  train,  while  the  poet  himself  is  all  the  time 
proceeding  with  an  unaffected  and  equal  majesty  before  them. 
However,  of  the  two  extremes,  one  would  sooner  pardon  phren- 
sy  than  frigidity :  no  author  is  to  be  envied  for  such  commenda¬ 
tions  as  he  may  gain  by  that  character  of  style  which  his  friends 
must  agree  together  to  call  simplicity,  and  the  rest  of  the  world 
will  call  dulness.  There  is  a  graceful  and  dignified  simplicity, 
as  well  as  a  bald  and  sordid  one,  which  differ  as  much  from 
each  other  as  the  air  of  a  plain  man  from  that  of  a  sloven  :  it  ia 
one  thing  to  be  tricked  up,  and  another  not  to  be  dressed  at  all. 
Simplicity  is  the  mean  between  ostentation  and  rusticity. 

This  pure  and  noble  simplicity  is  nowhere  in  such  perfection 


XXV111 


PREFACE. 


as  in  the  Scripture  and  our  author.  One  may  affirm,  with  aL 
respect  to  the  inspired  writings,  that  the  divine  Spirit  made  use 
of  no  other  words  but  what  were  intelligible  and  common  to 
men  at  that  time,  and  in  that  part  of  the  world  ;  and  as  Homer 
is  the  author  nearest  to  those,  his  style  must  of  course  bear  a 
greater  resemblance  to  the  sacred  books  than  that  of  any  other 
writer.  This  consideration,  together  with  what  has  been  ob¬ 
served  of  the  parity  of  some  of  his  thoughts,  may,  mSthinks,  in¬ 
duce  a  translator  on  the  one  hand  to  give  into  several  of  those 
general  phrases  and  manners  of  expression,  which  have  attained 
a  veneration  even  in  our  language  from  being  used  in  the  Old 
Testament ;  as,  on  the  other,  to  avoid  those  which  have  been 
appropriated  to  the  Divinity,  and  in  a  manner  consigned  to  mys¬ 
tery  and  religion. 

For  a  further  preservation  of  this  air  of  simplicity,  a  particu¬ 
lar  care  should  be  taken  to  express  with  all  plainness  those 
moral  sentences  and  proverbial  speeches  which  are  so  nume¬ 
rous  in  this  poet.  They  have  something  venerable,  and,  as  1 
may  say,  oracular,  in  that  unadorned  gravity  and  shortness  with 
which  they  are  delivered  :  a  grace  which  would  be  utterly  lost 
by  endeavouring  to  give  them  what  we  call  a  more  ingenious, 
that  is,  a  more  modern,  turn  in  the  paraphrase. 

Perhaps  the  mixture  of  some  Grsecisms  and  old  words  after 
the  manner  of  Milton,  if  done  without  too  much  affectation, 
might  not  have  an  ill  effect  in  a  version  of  this  particular  work, 
which  most  of  any  other  seems  to  require  a  venerable  antique 
cast.  But  certainly  the  use  of  modern  terms  of  war  and  gov¬ 
ernment,  such  as  platoon,  campaign,  junto,  or  the  like,  into 
which  some  of  his  translators  have  fallen,  cannot  be  allowable: 
those  only  excepted,  without  which  it  is  impossible  to  treat  the 
subjects  in  any  living  language. 

There  are  two  peculiarities  in  Homer’s  diction  which  are  a 
sort  of  marks,  or  moles,  by  which  every  common  eye  distin¬ 
guishes  him  at  first  sight :  those  who  are  not  his  greatest  admi¬ 
rers  look  on  them  as  defects,  and  those  who  are,  seem  pleased 
with  them  as  beauties.  I  speak  of  his  compound  epithets,  and 
of  his  repetitions.  Many  of  the  former  cannot  be  done  literally 
into  English  without  destroying  the  purity  of  our  language.  2 
believe  such  should  be  retained  as  slide  easily  of  themselves 
into  an  English  compound,  without,  violence  to  the  ear  or  to  the 
received  rules  of  composition  ;  as  well  as  those  which  have  re¬ 
ceived  a  sanction  from  the  authority  of  our  best  poets,  and  are 
become  familiar  through  their  use  of  them  ;  such  as  the  cloud 
compelling  Jove,  &c.  As  for  the  rest,  whenever  any  can  be  as 
fully  and  significantly  expressed  in  a  single  word  as  in  a  com¬ 
pound  one,  the  course  to  be  taken  is  obvious. 

Some  that  cannot  be  so  turned  as  to  preserve  their  full  image 
by  one  or  two  words,  may  have  justice  done  them  by  circumlo- 


PREFACE 


XXIX 


cation;  as  the  epithet  ttvoatcpvWos  to  a  mountain,  would  appear 
little  or  ridiculous  translated  literally,  “leaf-shaking,”  but  af¬ 
fords  a  majestic  idea  in  the  periphrasis  :  “  The  lofty  mountain 
shakes  his  waving  woods.”  Others,  that  admit  of  differing  sig¬ 
nifications,  may  receive  an  advantage  by  a  judicious  variation 
according  to  the  occasions  on  which  they  are  introduced.  For 
example,  the  epithet  of  Apollo,  e/cjj/JoXoj,  or  “far-shooting,”  is 
capable  of  two  explications  ;  one  literal  in  respect  to  the  darts 
and  bow,  the  ensigns  of  that  god  ;  the  other  allegorical  with  re¬ 
gard  to  the  rays  of  the  sun  :  therefore  in  such  places  where 
Apollo  is  represented  as  a  god  in  person,  I  would  use  the  former 
interpretation  ;  and  where  the  effects  of  the  sun  are  described,  I 
would  make  choice  of  the  latter.  On  the  whole,  it  will  be  ne¬ 
cessary  to  avoid  that  perpetual  repetition  of  the  same  epithets 
which  we  find  in  Homer ;  and  which,  though  it  might  be  ac¬ 
commodated,  as  has  been  already  shown,  to  the  ear  of  those 
times,  is  by  no  means  so  to  ours :  but  one  may  wait  for  oppor¬ 
tunities  of  placing  them,  where  they  derive  an  additional  beauty 
from  the  occasions  on  which  they  are  employed  ;  and  in  doing 
this  properly,  a  translator  may  at  once  show  his  fancy  and  his 
judgment. 

As  for  Homer’s  repetitions,  we  may  divide  them  into  three 
sorts ;  of  whole  narrations  and  speeches,  of  single  sentences, 
and  of  one  verse  or  hemistich.  I  hope  it  is  not  impossible  to 
have  such  a  regard  to  these,  as  neither  to  lose  so  known  a  mark 
of  t.he  author  on  the  one  hand,  nor  to  offend  the  reader  too 
much  on  the  other.  The  repetition  is  not  ungraceful  in  those 
speeches  where  the  dignity  of  the  speaker  renders  it  a  sort  of 
insolence  to  alter  his  words;  as  in  the  messages  from  gods  to* 
men,  or  from  higher  powers  to  inferiors  in  concerns  of  state,  or 
where  the  ceremonial  of  religion  seems  to  require  it,  in  the 
solemn  forms  of  prayers,  oaths,  or  the  like.  In  other  cases,  I 
believe,  the  best  rule  is,  to  be  guided  by  the  nearness,  or  dis¬ 
tance,  at  which  the  repetitions  are  placed  in  the  original :  when 
they  follow  too  close,  one  may  vary  the  expression  ;  but  it  is  a 
question,  whether  a  professed  translator  be  authorized  to  omit 
any  :  if  they  be  tedious,  the  author  is  to  answer  for  it. 

It  only  remains  to  speak  of  the  versification.  Homer,  as  has 
been  said,  is  perpetually  applying  the  sound  to  the  sense,  and 
varying  it  on  every  new  subject.  This  is  indeed  one  of  the 
most  exquisite  beauties  of  poetry,  and  attainable,  by  very  few  : 
I  know  only  of  Homer  eminent  for  it  in  the  Greek,  and  Vir¬ 
gil  in  Latin.  *  I  am  sensible  it  is  what  may  sometimes  happen 
by  chance,  when  a  writer  is  warm,  and  fully  possessed  of  his 
image  ;  however,  it  may  be  reasonably  believed  they  designed 
this,  in  whose  verse  it  so  manifestly  appears  in  a  superior  de¬ 
gree  to  all  others.  Few  readers  have  the  ear  to  be  judge* 

c2 


XXX 


PREFACE 


of  it ;  hut  those  who  have,  will  see  I  have  endeavoured  at  this 
beauty. 

On  the  whole,  I  must  confess  myself  utterly  incapable  of  do¬ 
ing  justice  to  Homer  I  attempt  him  in  no  other  hope  but  that 
which  one  may  entertain  without  much  vanity,  of  giving  a 
more  tolerable  copy  of  him  than  any  entire  translation  in  verse 
has  yet  done.  We  have  only  those  of  Chapman,  Hobbes,  and 
Ogilby.  Chapman  has  taken  the  advantage  of  an  imrnensur- 
able  length  of  verse ;  notwithstanding  which,  there  is  scarce 
any  paraphrase  more  loose  and  rambling  than  his.  He  has  fre¬ 
quent  interpolations  of  four  or  six  lines,  and  I  remember  one  in 
the  thirteenth  book  of  the  Odyssey,  v.  312,  where  he  has  spun 
twenty  verses  out  of  two.  He  is  often  mistaken  in  so  bold  a 
maimer,  that  one  might  think  he  deviated  on  purpose,  if  he  did 
not  in  other  places  of  his  notes  insist  so  much  on  verbal  trifles. 
He  appears  to  have  had  a  strong  affectation  of  extracting  new 
meanings  out  of  his  author,  insomuch,  as  to  promise,  in  his 
rhyming  preface,  a  poem  of  the  mysteries  he  had  revealed  in 
Homer:  and  perhaps  he  endeavoured  to  strain  the  obvious 
sense  to  this  end.  His  expression  is  involved  in  fustian,  a  fault 
for  which  he  was  remarkable  in  his  original  writings,  as  in  the 
tragedy  of  Bussy  d’Amboise,  &c.  In  a  word,  the  nature  of  the 
man  may  account  for  his  whole  performance  ;  for  he  appears, 
from  his  preface  and  remarks,  to  have  been  of  an  arrogant  turn, 
and  an  enthusiast  in  poetry.  His  own  boast  of  having  finished 
half  the  Iliad  in  less  than  fifteen  weeks,  shows  with  what  neg¬ 
ligence  his  version  was  performed.  But  that  which  is  to  be 
allowed  him,  and  which  very  much  contributed  to  cover  his  de¬ 
fects,  is  a  daring  fiery  spirit  that  animates  his  translation,  which 
is  something  like  what  one  might  imagine  Homer  himself  would 
have  writ  before  he  arrived  at  years  of  discretion. 

Hobbes  has  given  us  a  correct,  explanation  of  the  sense  in 
general ;  but  for  particulars  and  circumstances  he  continually 
lops  them,  and  often  omits  the  most  beautiful.  As  for  its  being 
esteemed  a  close  translation,  I  doubt  not  many  have  been  led 
into  that  error  by  the  shortness  of  it,  which  proceeds  not  from 
his  following  the  original  line  by  line,  but  from  the  contractions 
above  mentioned.  He  sometimes  omits  whole  similes  and  sen¬ 
tences,  and  is  now  and  then  guilty  of  mistakes,  into  which  no 
writer  of  his  learning  could  have  fallen  but  through  careless¬ 
ness.  His  poetry,  as  well  as  Ogilby’s,  is  too  mean  for  criti¬ 
cism. 

It  is  a  great  loss  to  the  poetical  world  that  Mf.  Dryden  did 
not  live  to  translate  the  Iliad.  He  has  left  us  only  the  first 
nook,  and  a  small  part  of  the  sixth  :  in  which,  if  he  has  in 
some  places  not  truly  interpreted  the  sense,  or  preserved  the 
antiquities,  it  ought  to  be  excused  on  account  of  the  haste  he 
was  obliged  to  write  in.  He  seems  to  have  had  too  much  re- 


,n„  college  ubka*< 

...it  MASS* 


.ccTNUT 


gard  to  Chapman,  whose  words  he  sometimes  copies,  and  has 
unhappily  followed  him  in  passages  where  he  wanders  from  the 
original.  However,  had  he  translated  the  whole  work,  J  would 
no  more  have  attempted  Homer  after  him  than  Virgil ;  his  ver¬ 
sion  of  whom,  notwithstanding  some  human  errors,  is  the  most 
noble  and  spirited  translation  1  know  in  any  language.  v  But 
the  fate  of  great  geniuses  is  like  that  of  great  ministers ;  though 
they  are  confessedly  the  first  in  the  commonwealth  of  letters, 
they  must  be  envied  and  calumniated  only  for  being  at  the 
head  of  it. 

That  which  in  my  opinion  ought  to  be  the  endeavour  of  any 
one  who  translates  Homer,  is  above  all  things  to  keep  alive 
that  spirit  and  fire  which,  makes  his  chief  character :  in  particu¬ 
lar  places,  where  the  sense  can  bear  any  doubt,  to  follow  the 
strongest  and  most  poetical,  as  most  agreeing  with  that  charac¬ 
ter  ;  to  copy  him  in  all  the  variations  of  his  style,  and  the  dif¬ 
ferent  modulations  of  his  numbers  ;  to  preserve,  in  the  more 
active  or  descriptive  parts,  a  warmth  and  elevation ;  in  the 
more  sedate  or  narrative,  a  plainness  and  solemnity ;  in  the 
speeches,  a  fulness  and  perspicuity  ;  in  the  sentences,  a  short¬ 
ness  and  gravity  :  not  to  neglect  even  the  little  figures  and  turns 
on  the  words,  nor  sometimes  the  very  cast  of  the  periods  :  nei¬ 
ther  to  omit  nor  confound  any  rites  or'  customs  of  antiquity . 
perhaps,  too,  he  ought  to  include  the  whole  in  a  shorter  com¬ 
pass  than  has  hitherto  been  done  by  any  translator  who  has 
tolerably  preserved  either  the  sense  or  poetry.  What  I  would 
further  recommend  to  him,  is  to  study  his  author  rather  from  his 
own  text  than  from  any  commentaries,  how  learned  soever,  or 
whatever  figure  they  may  make  in  the  estimation  of  the  world ; 
to  consider  him  attentively  in  comparison  with  Virgil  above  all 
the  ancients,  and  with  Milton  above  all  the  moderns.  Next 
these,  the  Archbishop  of  Cambray’s  Telemachus  may  give  him 
the  truest  idea  of  the  spirit  and  turn  of  our  author,  and  Bossu’s 
admirable  treatise  of  the  Epic  Poem  the  justest  notion  of  his 
design  and  conduct.  But  after  all,  with  whatever  judgment  and 
study  a  man  may  proceed,  or  with  whatever  happiness  he  may 
perform  such  a  work,  he  must  hope  to  please  but  a  few  ;  those 
only  who  have  at  once  a  taste  of  poetry,  and  competent  learn¬ 
ing.  For  to  satisfy  such  as  want  either,  is  not  in  the  nature  of 
this  undertaking ;  since  a  mere  modern  wit  can  like  nothing  that 
is  not  modern,  and  a  pedant  nothing  that  is  not  Greek. 

What  1  have  done  is  submitted  to  the  ptiblic,  from  whose 
opinions  1  am  prepared  to  learn  ;  though  1  fear  no  judges  so  lit¬ 
tle  as  our  best  poets,  who  are  most  sensible  of  the  weight,  of, 
this  task.  As  for  the  worst,  whatever  they  shall  please  to  say, 
they  may  give  me  some  concern  as  they  are  unhappy  men,  but 
none  as  they  are  malignant  writers.  1  was  guided  in  this  trans¬ 
lation  by  judgments  very  different  from  theirs,  and  by  persons 


xxxii 


PREFACE. 


for  whom  they  can  have  no  kindness,  if  an  old  observation  be 
true,  that  the  strongest  antipathy  in  the  world  is  that  of  fools  to 
men  of  wit.  Mr.  Addison  was  the  first  whose  advice  deter¬ 
mined  me  to  undertake  this  task,  who  was  pleased  to  write  to  me 
on  that  occasion  in  such  terms  as  I  cannot  repeat  without  van¬ 
ity.  I  was  obliged  to  Sir  Richard  Steele  for  a  very  early  re¬ 
commendation  of  my  undertaking  to  the  public.  Dr.  Swift  pro¬ 
moted  my  interest  with  that  warmth  with  which  he  always 
serves  his  friend.  The  humanity  and  frankness  of  Sir  Samuel 
Garth  are  what  I  never  knew  wanting  on  any  occasion.  I  must 
also  acknowledge,  with  infinite  pleasure,  the  many  friendly 
offices,  as  well  as  sincere  criticisms,  of  Mr.  Congreve,  who  had 
led  me  the  way  in  translating  some  parts  of  Horner  ;  as  I  wish, 
for  the  sake  of  the  world,  he  had  prevented  me  in  the  rest.  I 
must  add  the  names  of  Mr.  Rowe  and  Dr.  Parnell,  though  I  shall 
take  a  further  opportunity  of  doing  justice  to  the  last,  whose 
good  nature,  to  give  it  a  great  panegyric,  is  no  less  extensive 
than  his  learning.  The  favour  of  these  gentlemen  is  not  en¬ 
tirely  undeserved  by  one  who  bears  them  so  true  an  affection. 
Buc  what  can  I  say  of  the  honour  so  many  of  the  great  have 
done  me,  while  the  first  names  of  the  age  appear  as  my  sub¬ 
scribers,  and  the  most  distinguished  patrons  and  ornaments  of 
learning,  as  my  chief  encouragers  ?  Among  these,  it  is  a  par¬ 
ticular  pleasure  to  me  to  find,  that  my  highest  obligations  are 
to  such  who  have  done  most  honour  to  the  name  of  poet :  that 
his  grace  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  was  not  displeased  I 
should  undertake  the  author  to  whom  he  has  given,  in  his  ex¬ 
cellent  Essay,  so  complete  a  praise : — 

“  Read  Homer  once,  and  you  can  read  no  more  ; 

For  all  books  else  appear  so  mean,  so  poor, 

Verse  will  seem  prose  :  but  still  persist  to  read, 

And  Homer  will  be  all  the  books  you  need.” 

That  the  Earl  of  Halifax  was  one  of  the  first  to  favour  me  ;  of 
whom  it  is  hard  to  say,  whether  the  advancement  of  the  polite 
arts  is  more  owing  to  his  generosity  or  his  example :  that  such 
a  genius  as  my  Lord  Bolingbroke,  not  more  distinguished  in  the 
great  scenes  of  business  than  in  all  the  useful  and  entertaining 
parts  of  learning,  has  not  refused  to  be  the  critic  of  these  sheets, 
and  the  patron  of  their  writer;  and  that  so  excellent  an  imitator 
Of  Homer  as  the  noble  author  of  the  tragedy  of  Heroic  Love, 
has  continued  his  partiality  to  me,  from  my  writing  Pastorals  to 
my  attempting  the  Iliad.  I  cannot  deny  myself  the  pride  of 
confessing,  that  I  have  had  the  advantage  not  only  of  their  ad¬ 
vice  for  the  conduct  in  general,  but  their  correction  of  several 
particulars  of  this  translation. 

I  could  say  a  great  deal  of  the  pleasure  of  being  distinguished 


PREFACE 


XXX111 


by  the  Earl  of  Carnarvon ;  but  it  is  almost  absurd  to  particu¬ 
larize  any  one  generous  action  in  a  person  whose  whole  life  is  a 
continued  series  of  them.  Mr.  Stanhope,  the  present  secretary 
of  state,  will  pardon  my  desire  of  having  it  known  that  he  was 
pleased  to  promote  this  affair.  The  particular  zeal  of  Mr.  Har- 
court,  the  son  of  the  late  lord  chancellor,  gave  me  a  proof  how 
much  I  am  honoured  in  a  share  of  his  friendship.  1  must  at¬ 
tribute  to  the  same  motive  that  of  several  others  of  my  friends, 
to  whom  all  acknowledgments  are  rendered  unnecessary  by  the 
privileges  of  a  familiar  correspondence ;  and  I  am  satisfied  1  can 
no  way  better  oblige  men  of  their  turn  than  by  my  silence. 

In  short,  I  have  found  more  patrons  than  ever  Homer  want¬ 
ed.  He  would  have  thought  himself  happy  to  have  met  the 
same  favour  at  Athens  that  has  been  shown  me  by  its  learned 
rival,  the  university  of  Oxford.  If  my  author  had  the  wits  of 
after  ages  for  his  defenders,  his  translator  has  had  the  beauties 
of  the  present  for  his  advocates ;  a  pleasure  too  great  to  be 
changed  for  any  fame  in  reversion.  And  I  can  hardly  envy  him 
those  pompous  honours  he  received  after  death,  when  I  reflect 
on  the  enjoyment  of  so  many  agreeable  obligations,  and  easy 
friendships,  which  make  the  satisfaction  of  life.  This  distinc¬ 
tion  is  the  more  to  be  acknowledged,  as  it  is  shown  to  one 
whose  pen  has  never  gratified  the  prejudices  of  particular  par¬ 
ties,  or  the  vanities  of  particular  men.  Whatever  the  success 
may  prove,  I  shall  never  repent  of  an  undertaking  in  which  I 
have  experienced  the  candour  and  friendship  of  so  many  per¬ 
sons  of  merit ;  and  in  which  I  hope  to  pass  some  of  those  years 
of  youth  that  are  generally  lost  in  a  circle  of  follies,  after  a 
manner  neither  wholly  unuseful  to  others  nor  disagreeable  to 
myself. 


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.i 


THE  ILIAD. 


ILIAD. 


BOOK  I. 


ARGUMENT. 


The  Contention  of  Achilles  and  Agamemnon. 

In  the  war  of  Troy,  the  Greeks,  having  sacked  some  of  the 
neighbouring  towns,  and  taken  from  thence  two  beautiful  cap¬ 
tives,  Chryseis  and  Briseis,  allotted  the  first  to  Agamemnon, 
and  the  last  to  Achilles.  Chryses,the  father  of  Chryseis,  and 
priest  of  Apollo,  comes  to  the  Grecian  camp  to  ransom  her ; 
with  which  the  action  of  the  poem  opens,  in  the  tenth  year  of 
the  siege.  The  priest  being  refused,  and  insolently  dismissed 
by  Agamemnon,  entreats  for  vengeance  from  his  god,  who 
inflicts  a  pestilence  on  the  Greeks.  Achilles  calls  a  council, 
and  encourages  Chalcas  to  declare  the  cause  of  it,  who  at¬ 
tributes  it  to  the  refusal  of  Chryseis.  The  king,  being  obliged 
to  send  back  his  captive,  enters  into  a  furious  contest  with 
Achilles,  which  Nestor  pacifies  :  however,  as  he  had  the  abso¬ 
lute  command  of  the  army,  he  seizes  on  Briseis  in.  revenge. 
Achilles  in  discontent  withdraws  himself  and  his  forces  from 
the  rest  of  the  Greeks ;  and  complaining  to  Thetis,  she  suppli¬ 
cates  Jupiter  to  render  them  sensible  of  the  wrong  done  to  her 
son,  by  giving  victory  to  the  Trojans.  Jupiter  granting  her 
suit,  incenses  Juno,  between  whom  the  debate  runs  high,  till 
they  are  reconciled  by  the  address  of  V ulcan. — [The  time  of 
two-and-twenty  days  is  taken  up  in  this  book:  nine  during  the 
plague,  one  in  the  council  and  quarrel  of  the  princes,  and 
twelve  for  Jupiter’s  stay  with  the  ^Ethiopians,  at  whose  re- 
HOM. - 1. - D 


38 


HOMER. 


turn  Thetis  prefers  her  petition.  The  scene  lies  in  the  Gre¬ 
cian  camp,  then  changes  to  Chrysa,  and  lastly  to  Olympus.] 


Achilles’  wrath,  to  Greece  the  direful  spring 
Of  woes  unnumber’d,  heavenly  goddess,  sing! 

That  wrath  which  hurl’d  to  Pluto’s  gloomy  reign 
The  souls  of  mighty  chiefs  untimely  slain  ; 

Whose  limbs,  unburied  on  the  naked  shore,  5 

Devouring  dogs  and  hungry  vultures  tore  ; 

Since  great  Achilles  and  Atrides  strove, 

Such  was  the  sovereign  doom,  and  such  the  will  of 
Jove ! 

Declare,  oh  muse  !  in  what  ill-fated  hour 
Sprung  the  fierce  strife,  from  what  offended  power? 
Latona’s  son  a  dire  contagion  spread,  11 

And  heap’d  the  camp  with  mountains  of  the  dead  : 
The  king  of  men  his  reverend  priest  defied, 

And  for  the  king’s  offence  the  people  died. 

For  Chryses  sought  with  costly  gifts  to  gain  15 
His  captive  daughter  from  the  victor’s  chain. 
Suppliant  the  venerable  father  stands, 

Apollo’s  awful  ensigns  grace  his  hands  : 

By  these  he  begs  ;  and  lowly  bending  down, 
Extends  the  sceptre  and  the  laurel  crown.  20 

He  sued  to  all,  but  chief  implored  for  grace 
The  brother  kings  of  Atreus’  royal  race. 

“Ye  kings  and  warriors !  may  your  vows  be 
crown’d, 

And  Troy’s  proud  walls  lie  level  with  the  ground ! 
May  Jove  restore  you,  when  your  toils  are  o’er,  25 
Safe  to  the  pleasures  of  your  native  shore; 

But,  oh !  relieve  a  wretched  parent’s  pain, 

And  give  Chryseis  to  these  arms  again  ; 

If  mercy  fail,  yet  let  my  presents  move, 

And  dread  avenging  Phoebus*  son  of  Jove.” 

The  Greeks  in  shouts  their  joint  assent  declare 
The  priest  to  reverence,  and  release  the  fair. 

Not  so  Atrides :  he.  with  kingly  pride, 

.Repulsed  the  sacred  sire,  and  thus  replied  : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  I. 


39 


“  Hence,  on  thy  life,  and  fly  these  hostile  plains, 
Nor  ask,  presumptuous,  what  the  king  detains  ;  36 

Hence,  with  thy  laurel  crown,  and  golden  rod, 

Nor  trust  too  far  those  ensigns  of  thy  god. 

Mine  is  thy  daughter,  priest,  and  shall  remain  ; 

And  prayers,  and  tears,  and  bribes,  shall  plead  in 
vain ;  40 

Till  time  shall  rifle  every  youthful  grace, 

And  age  dismiss  her  from  my  cold  embrace, 

In  daily  labours  of  the  loom  employ’d, 

Or  doom’d  to  deck  the  bed  she  once  enjoy’d. 

Hence  then  to  Argos  shall  the  maid  retire,  45 

Far  from  her  native  soil  and  weeping  sire.” 

The  trembling  priest  along  the  shore  return’d, 

And  in  the  anguish  of  a  father  mourn’d. 
Disconsolate,  not  daring  to  complain, 

Silent  he  wander’d  by  the  sounding  main:  59 

Till,  safe  at  distance,  to  his  god  he  prays, 

The  god  who  darts  around  the  world  his  rays. 

“  Oh  Smintheus  !  sprung  from  fair  Latona’s  line, 
Thou  guardian  power  of  Cilia  the  divine, 

Thou  source  of  light!  whom  Tenedos  adores,  55 
And  whose  bright  presence  gilds  thy  Chrysa’s 
shores : 

If  e’er  with  wreaths  I  hung  thy  sacred  fane, 

Or  fed  the  flames  with  fat  of  oxen  slain; 

God  of  the  silver  bow  !  thy  shafts  employ, 

Avenge  thy  servant,  and  the  Greeks  destroy.”  60 
Thus  Chryses  pray’d:  the  favouring  power  attends, 
And  from  Olympus’  lofty  top  descends. 

Bent  was  his  bow,  the  Grecian  hearts  to  wound, 
Fierce  as  he  moved,  his  silver  shafts  resound. 
Breathing  revenge,  a  sudden  night  he  spread,  65 
And  gloomy  darkness  rolled  around  his  head. 

The  fleet  in  view,  he  twang’d  his  deadly  bow, 

And  hissing  fly  the  feather’d  fates  below. 

On  mules  and  dogs  th’  infection  first  began; 

And  last,  the  vengeful  arrows  fix’d  in  man.  70 


40 


HOMER. 


For  nine  long  nights  through  all  the  dusky  air 
The  pyres  thick  flaming  shot  a  dismal  glare. 

But  ere  the  tenth  revolving  day  was  run, 

Inspired  by  Juno,  Thetis’  godlike  son 

Convened  to  council  all  the  Grecian  train  ;  75 

For  much  the  goddess  mourn’d  her  heroes  slain. 

Th’  assembly  seated,  rising  o’er  the  rest, 

Achilles  thus  the  king  of  men  address’d  : 

“  Why  leave  we  not  the  fatal  Trojan  shore, 

And  measure  back  the  seas  we  cross’d  before? 

The  plague  destroying  whom  the  sword  would  spare, 
’Tis  time  to  save  the  few  remains  of  war. 

But  let  some  prophet,  or  some  sacred  sage, 

Explore  the  cause  of  great  Apollo’s  rage : 

Or  learn  the  wasteful  vengeance  to  remove,  86 
By  mystic  dreams,  for  dreams  descend  from  Jove. 

If  broken  vows  this  heavy  curse  have  laid, 

Let  altars  smoke,  and  hecatombs  be  paid. 

So  Heaven  atoned  shall  dying  Greece  restore, 

And  Phoebus  dart  his  burning  shafts  no  more.”  90 
He  said,  and  sat :  when  Chalcas  thus  replied ; 
Chalcas  the  wise,  the  Grecian  priest  and  guide, 
That  sacred  seer,  whose  comprehensive  view 
The  past,  the  present,  and  the  future  knew : 
Uprising  slow,  the  venerable  sage  95 

Thus  spoke  the  prudence  and  the  fears  of  age. 

“  Beloved  of  Jove,  Achilles  !  wouldst  thou  know 
Why  angry  Phoebus  bends  his  fatal  bow  1 
First  give  thy  faith,  and  plight  a  prince’s  wrord 
Of  sure  protection,  by  thy  power  and  sword  :  100 

For  I  must  speak  what  wisdom  would  conceal, 

And  truths,  invidious  to  the  great,  reveal. 

Bold  is  the  task,  when  subjects,  grown  too  wise, 
Instruct  a  monarch  where  his  error  lies; 

For  though  we  deem  the  shortlived  fury  past,  105 
’Tis  sure,  the  mighty  will  revenge  at  last.” 

To  whom  Pelides  :  “  From  thy  inmost  soul 
Speak  what  thou  know’st,  and  speak  without  con¬ 
trol. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  I. 


41 


Ev’n  by  that  god  I  swear,  who  rules  the  day, 

To  whom  thy  hands  the  vows  of  Greece  convey,  110 
And  whose  bless’d  oracles  thy  lips  declare; 

Long  as  Achilles  breathes  this  vital  air, 

No  daring  Greek  of  all  the  numerous  band 
Against  his  priest  shall  lift  an  impious  hand: 

Not  ev’n  the  chief  by  whom  our  hosts  are  led,  115 
The  king  of  kings,  shall  touch  that  sacred  head.1’ 

Encouraged  thus,  the  blameless  man  replies  : 
“Nor  vows  unpaid,  nor  slighted  sacrifice, 

But  he,  our  chief,  provoked  the  raging  pest, 

Apollo’s  vengeance  for  his  injured  priest.  120 

Nor  will  the  god’s  awaken’d  fury  cease. 

But  plagues  shall  spread,  and  funeral  fires  increase, 
Till  the  great  king,  without  a  ransom  paid, 

To  her  own  Chrysa  send  the  black-eyed  maid. 
Perhaps,  with  added  sacrifice  and  prayer,  125 

The  priest  may  pardon,  and  the  god  may  spare.” 

The  prophet  spoke;  when  with  a  gloomy  frown 
The  monarch  started  from  his  shining  throne; 

Black  choler  fill’d  his  breast  that  boil’d  with  ire, 

And  from  his  eyeballs  flash’d  the  living  fire.  130 
“  Augur  accursed  !  denouncing  mischief  still, 
Prophet  of  plagues,  for  ever  boding  ill ! 

Still  must  that  tongue  some  wounding  message  bring, 
And  still  thy  priestly  pride  provoke  thy  king? 

For  this  are  Phcebus’  oracles  explored,  135 

To  teach  the  Greeks  to  murmur  at  their  lord? 

For  this  with  falsehoods  is  my  honour  stain’d, 

Is  Heaven  offended,  and  a  priest  profaned  ; 

Because  my  prize,  my  beauteous  maid,  I  hold, 

And  heavenly  charms  prefer  to  proffer’d  gold  ?  140 

A  maid,  unmatch’d  in  manners  as  in  face, 

Skill’d  in  each  art,  and  crown’d  with  every  grace. 
Not  half  so  dear  were  Clytemnestra’s  charms, 

When  first  her  blooming  beauties  bless’d  my  arms. 
Yet  if  the  gods  demand  her,  let  her  sail:  145 

Our  cares  are  only  for  the  public  weal : 

d  2 


42 


IIOMER. 


Let  me  be  deem’d  the  hateful  cause  of  all, 

And  suffer,  rather  than  my  people  fall. 

The  prize,  the  beauteous  prize,  I  will  resign, 

So  dearly  valued,  and  so  justly  mine.  160 

But  since  for  common  good  1  yield  the  fair, 

My  private  loss  let  grateful  Greece  repair; 

Nor  unrewarded  let  your  prince  complain, 

That  he  alone  has  fought  and  bled  in  vain.” 

“  Insatiate  king !”  Achilles  thus  replies;  155 
“Fond  of  the  power,  but  fonder  of  the  prize ! 
Wouldst  thou  the  Greeks  their  lawful  prey  should 
yield, 

The  due  reward  of  many  a  well-fought  field  ? 

The  spoils  of  cities  razed,  and  warriors  slain, 

We  share  with  justice,  as  with  toil  we  gain :  160 

But  to  resume  what’er  thy  avarice  craves 
(That  trick  of  tyrants)  may  be  borne  by  slaves. 

Yet  if  our  chief  for  plunder  only  fight. 

The  spoils  of  Ilion  shall  thy  loss  requite,  164 

Whene’er  by  Jove’s  decree  our  conquering  powers 
Shall  humble  to  the  dust  her  lofty  towers.” 

Then  thus  the  king:  “Shall  I  my  prize  resign 
With  tame  content,  and  thou  possess’d  of  thine  ? 
Great  as  thou  art,  and  like  a  god  in  fight, 

Think  not  to  rob  me  of  a  soldier’s  right.  170 

At  thy  demand  shall  I  restore  the  maid  ? 

First  let  the  just  equivalent  be  paid  ; 

Such  as  a  king  might  ask  :  and  let  it  be 
A  treasure  worthy  her,  and  worthy  me. 

Or  grant  me  this,  or  with  a  monarch’s  claim  175 
This  hand  shall  seize  some  other  captive  dame. 

The  mighty  Ajax  shall  his  prize  resign, 

Ulysses’  spoils,  or  ev'n  thy  own  be  mine. 

The  man  who  suffers,  loudly  may  complain  ; 

And  rage  he  may,  but  he  shall  rage  in  vain.  180 
But  this  when  time  requires — It  now  remains 
We  launch  a  bark  to  plough  the  watery  plains, 

And  waft  the  sacrifice  to  Chrysa’s  shores, 

With  chosen  pilots  and  with  labouring  oars. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  I. 


Soon  shall  the  fair  the  sable  ship  ascend, 

And  some  deputed  prince  the  charge  attend  ; 

This  Creta’s  king,  or  Ajax  shall  fulfil, 

Or  wise  Ulysses  see  perform’d  our  will; 

Or,  if  our  royal  pleasure  shall  ordain, 

Achilles’  self  conduct  her  o’er  the  main: 

Let  fierce  Achilles,  dreadful  in  his  rage, 

The  gods  propitiate,  and  the  pest  assuage.” 

At  this,  Pelides,  frowning  stern,  replied: 

“  Oh  tyrant,  arm’d  with  insolence  and  pride  ! 
Inglorious  slave  to  interest,  ever  join’d 
With  fraud,  unworthy  of  a  royal  mind  ! 

What  generous  Greek,  obedient  to  thy  word, 

Shall  form  an  ambush,  or  shall  lift  the  sword  ? 

What  cause  have  1  to  war  at  thy  decree  ? 

The  distant  Trojans  never  injured  me  ; 

To  Phthia’s  realms  no  hostile  troops  they  led; 

Safe  in  her  vales  my  warlike  coursers  fed ; 

Far  hence  removed,  the  hoarse-resoutiding  main, 
And  walls  of  rocks,  secure  my  native  reign, 

Whose  fruitful  soil  luxuriant  harvests  grace,  205 
Rich  in  her  fruits,  and  in  her  martial  race. 

Hither  we  sail’d,  a  voluntary  throng, 

T’  avenge  a  private,  not  a  public  wrong: 

What  else  to  Troy  the  assembled  nations  draws, 
But  thine, ungrateful,  and  thy  brother’s  cause?  210 
Is  this  the  pay  our  blood  and  toils  deserve  ; 
Disgraced  and  injured  by  the  man  we  serve  ? 

And  darest  thou  threat  to  snatch  my  prize  away, 
Due  to  the  deeds  of  many  a  dreadful  day  ? 

A  prize  as  small,  oh  tyrant !  match’d  with  thine,  215 
As  thy  own  actions  if  compared  to  mine. 

Thine  in  each  conquest  is  the  wealthy  prey, 

Though  mine  the  sweat  and  danger  of  the  day. 

Some  trivial  present  to  my  ships  I  bear, 

Or  barren  praises  pay  the  wounds  of  war.  220 
But  know,  proud  monarch  !  I’m  thy  slave  no  more ; 
My  fleet  shall  waft  me  to  Thessalia’s  shore. 


43 

185 

190 

195 

200 


44 


HOMER. 


Left  by  Achilles  on  the  Trojan  plain, 

What  spoils,  what  conquests,  shall  Atrides  gain!” 

To  this  the  king:  “  Fly,  mighty  warrior  !  fly,  225 
Thy  aid  we  need  not,  and  thy  threats  defy. 

There  want  not  chiefs  in  such  a  cause  to  fight, 

And  Jove  himself  shall  guard  a  monarch’s  right. 

Of  all  the  kings  (the  god’s  distinguish’d  care) 

To  power  superior  none  such  hatred  bear  ;  230 

Strife  and  debate  thy  restless  soul  employ, 

And  wars  and  horrors  are  thy  savage  joy. 

If  thou  hast  strength,  ’twas  Heaven  that  strength 
bestowed ; 

For  know,  vain  man!  thy  valour  is  from  God. 
Haste,  launch  thy  vessels,  fly  with  speed  away,  235 
Rule  thy  own  realms  with  arbitrary  sw’ay : 

I  heed  thee  not,  but  prize  at  equal  rate 
Thy  shortlived  friendship  and  thy  groundless  hate. 
Go,  threat  thy  earthborn  Myrmidons :  but  here 
’Tis  mine  to  threaten,  prince,  and  thine  to  fear.  240 
Know,  if  the  god  the  beauteous  dame  demand, 

My  bark  shall  waft  her  to  her  native  land  ; 

But  then  prepare,  imperious  prince  !  prepare, 

Fierce  as  thou  art,  to  yield  thy  captive  fair: 

Ev’n  in  thy  tent  I’ll  seize  the  blooming  prize,  245 
Thy  loved  Briseis  with  the  radiant  eyes. 

Hence  shalt  thou  prove  my  might,  and  curse  the 
hour 

Thou  stood’st  a  rival  of  imperial  power; 

And  hence  to  all  our  host  it  shall  be  known 
That  kings  are  subject  to  the  gods  alone.”  250 
Achilles  heard,  with  grief  and  rage  oppress’d. 

His  heart  swell’d  high,  and  labour’d  in  his  breast. 
Distracting  thoughts  by  turns  his  bosom  ruled. 

Now  fired  by  wrath,  and  now  by  reason  cool’d; 
That  prompts  his  hand  to  draw  the  deadly  sword, 
Force  through  the  Greeks,  and  pierce  their  haughty 
lord ;  258 

This  whispers  soft,  his  vengeance  to  control, 

And  calm  the  rising  tempest  of  his  soul. 


ILIAD — BOOK  I. 


45 


Just  as  in  anguish  of  suspense  he  stay’d,  259 

While  half  unsheathed  appear’d  the  glittering  blade, 
Minerva  swift  descended  from  above, 

Sent  by  the  sister  and  the  wife  of  Jove — 

(For  both  the  princes  claim’d  her  equal  care  ;) 
Behind  she  stood,  and  by  the  golden  hair 
Achilles  seized ;  to  him  alone  confess’d  ;  265 

A  sable  cloud  conceal’d  her  from  the  rest. 

He  sees,  and  sudden  to  the  goddess  cries — 

(Known  by  the  flames  that  sparkle  from  her  eyes:) 

“  Descends  Minerva  in  her  guardian  care, 

A  heavenly  witness  of  the  wrongs  I  bear  270 

From  Atreus’  son !  then  let  those  eyes  that  view 
The  daring  crime,  behold  the  vengeance  too.” 

“  Forbear !”  the  progeny  of  Jove  replies, 

“  To  calm  thy  fury  1  forsake  the  skies  : 

Let  great  Achilles,  to  the  gods  resign’d,  275 

To  reason  yield  the  empire  o’er  his  mind. 

By  awful  Juno  this  command  is  given  ; 

The  king  and  you  are  both  the  care  of  Heaven. 

The  force  of  keen  reproaches  let  him  feel, 

But  sheath,  obedient,  thy  revenging  steel.  280 
For  I  pronounce  (and  trust  a  heavenly  power) 

Thy  injured  honour  has  its  fated  hour, 

When  the  proud  monarch  shall  thy  arms  implore, 
And  bribe  thy  friendship  with  a  boundless  store. 
Then  let  revenge  no  longer  bear  the  sway,  285 
Command  thy  passions,  and  the  gods  obey.” 

To  her  Pelides :  “  With  regardful  ear, 

*Tis  just,  oh  goddess  !  I  thy  dictates  hear. 

Hard  as  it  is,  my  vengeance  I  suppress : 

Those  who  revere  the  gods,  the  gods  will  bless.” 

He  said,  observant  of  the  blue-eyed  maid  ;  291 

Then  in  the  sheath  return’d  the  shining  blade. 

The  goddess  swift  to  high  Olympus  flies, 

A.nd  joins  the  sacred  senate  of  the  skies. 

Nor  yet  the  rage  his  boiling  breast  forsook,  295 
Which  thus  redoubling  on  Atrides  broke : 


46 


HOMER. 


“  Oh  monster  !  mix’d  of  insolence  and  fear, 

Thou  dog  in  forehead,  but  in  heart  a  deer ! 

When  wert  thou  known  in  ambush’d  fights  to  dare, 
Or  nobly  face  the  horrid  front  of  war?  300 

‘Tis  ours  the  chance  of  fighting  fields  to  try, 

Thine  to  look  on,  and  bid  the  valiant  die. 

So  much  ’tis  safer  through  the  camp  to  go, 

And  rob  a  subject,  than  despoil  a  foe. 

Scourge  of  thy  people,  violent  and  base  !  305 

Sent  in  Jove’s  anger  on  a  slavish  race, 

Who,  lost  to  sense  of  generous  freedom  past, 

Are  tamed  to  wrongs,  or  this  had  been  thy  last. 

Now  by  this  sacred  sceptre  hear  me  swear, 

Which  never  more  shall  leaves  or  blossoms  bear, 
Which  sever’d  from  the  trunk  (as  1  from  thee)  311 
On  the  bare  mountains  left  its  parent  tree  ; 

This  sceptre,  foYm’d  by  temper’d  steel  to  prove 
An  ensign  of  the  delegates  of  Jove, 

From  whom  the  power  of  laws  and  justice  springs — 
(Tremendous  oath  !  inviolate  to  kings  :)  316 

By  this  1  swear,  when  bleeding  Greece  again 
Shall  call  Achilles,  she  shall  call  in  vain. 

When,  flush’d  with  slaughter,  Hector  comes  to  spread 
The  purpled  shore  with  mountains  of  the  dead,  320 
Then  shalt  thou  mourn  th’  affront  thy  madness  gave, 
Forced  to  deplore,  when  impotent  to  save  : 

Then  rage  in  bitterness  of  soul,  to  know 
This  act  has  made  the  bravest  Greek  thy  foe.” 

He  spoke;  and  furious  hurl’d  against  the  ground 
His  sceptre  starr’d  with  golden  studs  around,  326 
Then  sternly  silent  sat.  With  like  disdain 
The  raging  king  return’d  his  frowns  again. 

To  calm  their  passions  with  the  words  of  age, 
Slow  from  his  seat  arose  the  Pylian  sage.  330 
Experienced  Nestor,  in  persuasion  skill’d, 

Words  sweet  as  honey  from  his  lips  distill’d; 

Two  generations  now  had  pass’d  away, 

Wise  by  his  rules,  and  happy  by  his  sway  ; 


ILIAD. — BOOK  I.  47 

Two  ages  o’er  his  native  realm  he  reign’d,  335 
And  now  th’  example  of  the  third  remain’d. 

All  view’d  with  awe  the  venerable  man  ; 

Who  thus  with  mild  benevolence  began : 

“  What  shame,  what  wo  is  this  to  Greece !  what 

joy 

To  Troy’s  proud  monarch,  and  the  friends  of  Troy ! 
That  adverse  gods  commit  to  stern  debate  341 
The  best,  the  bravest  of  the  Grecian  state. 

Young  as  ye  are,  this  youthful  heat  restrain, 

Nor  think  your  Nestor’s  years  and  wisdom  vain. 

A  godlike  race  of  heroes  once  1  knew,  345 

Such  as  no  more  these  aged  eyes  shall  view  ! 

Lives  there  a  chief  to  match  Pirithous’  fame, 

Dryas  the  bold,  or  Ceneus’  deathless  name ; 
Theseus,  endued  with  more  than  mortal  might, 

Or  Polyphemus,  like  the  gods  in  fight  1  350 

With  these  of  old  to  toils  of  battle  bred, 

In  early  youth  my  hardy  days  I  led ; 

Fired  with  the  thirst  which  virtuous  envy  breeds, 
And  smit  with  love  of  honourable  deeds.  354 

Strongest  of  men,  they  pierced  the  mountain  boar, 
Ranged  the  wild  deserts  red  with  monsters’  gore, 
And  from  their  hills  the  shaggy  centaurs  tore. 

Yet  these  with  soft  persuasive  hearts  I  sway’d; 
When  Nestor  spoke,  they  listen’d  and  obey’d. 

If  in  my  youth  ev’n  these  esteem’d  me  wise,  360 
Do  you,  young  warriors,  hear  my  age  advise. 
Atrides,  seize  not  on  the  beauteous  slave  ; 

That  prize  the  Greeks  by  common  suffrage  gave; 
Nor  thou,  Achilles,  treat  our  prince  with  pride ; 

Let  kings  be  just,  and  sovereign  power  preside.  365 
Thee,  the  first  honours  of  the  war  adorn, 

Like  gods  in  strength,  and  of  a  goddess  born ; 

Him,  awful  majesty  exalts  above 

The  powers  of  earth,  and  sceptred  sons  of  Jove. 

Let  both  unite  with  well-consulting  mind,  370 
So  shall  authority  with  strength  be  join’d. 


48 


HOMER. 


Leave  me,  oh  king!  to  calm  Achilles  rage; 

Rule  thou  thyself,  as  more  advanced  in  age. 

Forbid  it,  gods !  Achilles  should  be  lost, 

The  pride  of  Greece,  and  bulwark  of  our  host.”  375 
This  said,  he  ceased.  The  king  of  men  replies  : 

“  Thy  years  are  awful, <and  thy  words  are  wise: 

But  that  imperious,  that  unconquer’d  soul, 

No  laws  can  limit,  nor  respect  control. 

Before  his  pride  must  his  superiors  fall,  380 

His  word  the  law,  and  he  the  lord  of  all  ? 

Him  must  our  hosts,  our  chiefs,  ourself  obey? 

What  king  can  bear  a  rival  in  his  sway  ? 

Grant  that  the  gods  his  matchless  force  have  given ; 
Has  foul  reproach  a  privilege  from  Heaven?”  385 
Here  on  the  monarch’s  speech  Achilles  broke, 
And  furious  thus,  and  interrupting,  spoke  : 

“  Tyrant !  I  well  deserved  thy  galling  chain, 

To  live  thy  slave,  and  still  to  serve  in  vain ; 

Should  I  submit  to  each  unjust  decree :  390 

Command  thy  vassals,  but  command  not  me. 

Seize  on  Briseis,  whom  the  Grecians  doom’d 
My  prize  of  war,  yet  tamely  see  resumed  ; 

And  seize  secure  ;  no  more  Achilles  draws 

His  conquering  sword  in  any  woman’s  cause.  395 

The  gods  command  me  to  forgive  the  past ; 

But  let  this  first  invasion  be  the  last : 

For  know,  thy  blood,  when  next  thou  dar’st  invade, 
Shall  stream  in  vengeance  on  my  reeking  blade.” 

At  this  they  ceased,  the  stern  debate  expired :  400 
The  chiefs  in  sullen  majesty  retired. 

Achilles  with  Patroclus  took  his  way, 

Where  near  his  tents  his  hollow  vessels  lay. 
Meantime  Atrides  launch’d  with  numerous  oars 
A  well-rigg’d  ship  for  Chrysa’s  sacred  shores :  405 

High  on  the  deck  was  fair  Chryseis  placed, 

And  sage  Ulysses  with  the  conduct  graced : 

Safe  in  her  sides  the  hecatomb  they  stow’d, 

Then  swiftly  sailing,  cut  the  liquid  road. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  I.  49 

The  host  to  expiate,  next  the  king  prepares,  410 
With  pure  lustrations,  aud  with  solemn  prayers. 
Wash’d  by  the  briny  wave,  the  pious  train 
Are  cleansed,  and  cast  the  ablutions  in  the  main. 
Along  the  shore  whole  hecatombs  were  laid, 

And  bulls  and  goats  to  Phoebus’  altars  paid.  415 
The  sable  fumes  in  curling  spires  arise, 

And  waft  their  grateful  odours  to  the  skies. 

The  army  thus  in  sacred  rites  engaged, 

Atrides  still  with  deep  resentment  raged. 

To  wait  his  will  two  sacred  heralds  stood,  420 
Talthybius  and  Eurybates  the  good. 

“  Haste  to  the  fierce  Achilles’  tent,”  he  cries  ; 

“  Thence  bear  Briseis  as  our  royal  prize  : 

Submit  he  must !  or,  if  they  will  not  part, 

Ourself  in  arms  shall  tear  her  from  his  heart.”  425 
The  unwilling  heralds  act  their  lord’s  commands  : 
Pensive  they  walk  along  the  barren  sands  ; 

Arrived,  the  hero  in  his  tent  they  find, 

With  gloomy  aspect  on  his  arm  reclined. 

At  awful  distance  long  they  silent  stand,  430 

Loath  to  advance,  or  speak  their  hard  command ; 
Decent  confusion  !  This  the  godlike  man 
Perceived,  and  thus  with  accent  mild  began: 

“  With  leave  and  honour  enter  our  abodes, 

Ye  sacred  ministers  of  men  and  gods  !  435 

I  know  your  message  ;  by  constraint  you  came  ; 
Not  you,  but  your  imperious  lord  I  blame. 

Patroclus,  haste,  the  fair  Briseis  bring; 

Conduct  my  captive  to  the  haughty  king. 

But  witness,  heralds,  and  proclaim  my  vow,  440 
Witness  to  gods  above,  and  men  below  ! 

But  first,  and  loudest,  to  your  prince  declare, 

That  lawless  tyrant  whose  commands  ye  bear; 
Unmoved  as  death  Achilles  shall  remain, 

Though  prostrate  Greece  should  bleed  at  every  vein: 
The  raging  chief  in  frantic  passion  lost,  446 

Blind  to  himself,  and  useless  to  his  host, 
hom. — i. — E 


50 


HOMER. 


Unskill’d  to  judge  the  future  by  the  past, 

In  blood  -and  slaughter  shall  repent  at  last.” 

Patroclus  now  the  unwilling  beauty  brought;  450 
She,  in  soft  sorrows  and  in  pensive  thought, 

Pass'd  silent,  as  the  heralds  held  her  hand, 

And  oft  look’d  back,  slow  moving  o’er  the  strand. 
Not  so  his  loss  the  fierce  Achilles  bore  ; 

But  sad  retiring  to  the  sounding  shore,  455 

O’er  the  wild  margin  of  the  deep  he  hung, 

That  kindred  deep  from  whence  his  mother  sprung; 
There,  bathed  in  tears  of  anger  and  disdain, 

Thus  loud  lamented  to  the  stormy  main  : 

“  Oh  parent  goddess  !  since  in  early  bloom  460 
Thy  son  must  fall,  by  too  severe  a  doom  ; 

Sure,  to  so  short  a  race  of  glory  born, 

Great  Jove  injustice  should  this  span  adorn: 
Honour  and  fame  at  least  the  Thunderer  ow’d, 

A  nd  ill  he  pays  the  promise  of  a  god  ;  465 

If  yon  proud  monarch  thus  thy  son  defies, 

Obscures  my  glories,  and  resumes  my  prize.” 

Far  in  the  deep  recesses  of  the  main, 

Where  aged  Ocean  holds  his  watery  reign, 

The  goddess  mother  heard.  The  waves  divide;  470 
And  like  a  mist  she  rose  above  the  tide  ; 

Beheld  him  mourning  on  the  naked  shores, 

And  thus  the  sorrows  of  his  soul  explores : 

“  Why  grieves  my  son  ?  Thy  anguish  let  me  share, 
Reveal  the  cause,  and  trust  a  parent’s  care.”  475 
He,  deeply  sighing,  said,  “  To  tell  my  wo, 

Is  but  to  mention  what  too  well  you  know. 

From  Thebe,  sacred  to  Apollo’s  name, 

(Aetion’s  realm,)  our  conquering  army  came, 

With  treasure  loaded  and  triumphant  spoils,  480 
Whose  just  division  crown’d  the  soldier’s  toils  : 

But  bright  Chryseis,  heavenly  prize  !  was  led, 

By  vote  selected,  to  the  general’s  bed. 

The  priest  of  Phoebus  sought  by  gifts  to  gain 
His  beauteous  daughter  from  the  victor’s  chain  :  485 


ILIAD. — BOOK  I. 


51 


The  fleet  he  reach’d,  and  lowly  bending  down, 

Held  forth  the  sceptre  and  the  laurel  crown, 
Entreating  all:  but  chief  implored  for  grace 
The  brother  kings  of  Atreus’  royal  race  : 

The  generous  Greeks  their  joint  consent  declare,  490 
The  priest  to  reverence,  and  release  the  fair. 

Not  so  Atrides:  he,  with  wonted  pride, 

The  sire  insulted,  and  his  gifts  denied. 

The  insulted  sire  (his  god’s  peculiar  care) 

To  Phoebus  pray’d,  and  Phoebus  heard  the  prayer ; 

A  dreadful  plague  ensues;  the  avenging  darts  496 
Incessant  fly,  and  pierce  the  Grecian  hearts. 

A  prophet  then,  inspired  by  Heaven,  arose, 

And  points  the  crime,  and  thence  derives  the  woes. 
Myself  the  first  the  assembled  chiefs  incline  500 
To  avert  the  vengeance  of  the  power  divine  ; 

Then  rising  in  his  wrath,  the  monarch  storm’d ; 
Incensed  he  threaten’d,  and  his  threats  perform’d : 
The  fair  Chryseis  to  her  sire  was  sent, 

With  offer’d  gifts  to  make  the  god  relent ;  505 

But  now  he  seized  Briseis’  heavenly  charms, 

And  of  my  valour’s  prize  defrauds  my  arms, 
Defrauds  the  votes  of  all  the  Grecian  train ; 

And  service,  faith,  and  justice,  plead  in  vain. 

But,  goddess  !  thou  thy  suppliant  son  attend,  510 
To  high  Olympus’  shining  court  ascend, 

Urge  all  the  ties  to  former  service  owed, 

And  sue  for  vengeance  to  the  thundering  god. 

Oft  hast  thou  triumph’d  in  the  glorious  boast, 

That  thou  stood’st  forth  of  all  the  ethereal  host,  515 
When  bold  rebellion  shook  the  realms  above, 

The  undaunted  guard  of  cloud-compelling  Jove. 
When  the  bright  partner  of  his  awful  reign, 

The  warlike  maid,  and  monarch  of  the  main, 

The  traitor  gods,  by  mad  ambition  driven,  520 
Durst  threat  with  chains  the  omnipotence  of  Heaven, 
Then  call’d  by  thee,  the  monster  Titan  came, 
(Whom  gods  Briareus,  men  ASgeon  name,) 


52 


HOMER. 


Through  wandering  skies  enormous  stalk’d  along; 
Not  he  that  shakes  the  solid  earth  so  strong:  525 
With  giant  pride  at  Jove’s  high  throne  he  stands, 
And  brandish’d,  round  him  all  his  hundred  hands; 
The  affrighted  gods  confess’d  their  awful  lord, 

They  dropp’d  the  fetters,  trembled,  and  adored. 
This,  goddess,  this  to  his  remembrance  call,  530 
Embrace  his  knees,  at  his  tribunal  fall ; 

Conjure  him  far  to  drive  the  Grecian  train, 

To  hurl  them  headlong  to  their  fleet  and  main, 

To  heap  the  shores  with  copious  death,  and  bring 
The  Greeks  to  know  the  curse  of  such  a  king  :  535 
Let  Agamemnon  lift  his  haughty  head 
O’er  all  his  wide  dominion  of  the  dead, 

And  mourn  in  blood,  that  e’er  he  durst  disgrace 
The  boldest  warrior  of  the  Grecian  race.” 

“  Unhappy  son  !”  fair  Thetis  thus  replies,  540 
While  tears  celestial  trickle  from  her  eyes, 

“  Why  have  1  borne  thee  with  a  mother’s  throes, 

To  fates  averse,  and  nursed  for  future  woes? 

So  short  a  space  the  light  of  heaven  to  view  ! 

So  short  a  space !  and  fill’d  with  sorrow  too  !  545 

Oh  might  a  parent’s  careful  wish  prevail, 

Far,  far  from  Ilion  should  thy  vessels  sail ! 

And  thou,  from  camps  remote,  the  danger  shun, 
Which  now,  alas !  too  nearly  threats  my  son. 

Yet  (what  I  can)  to  move  thy  suit  I’ll  go  550 

To  great  Olympus  crown’d  with  fleecy  snow. 
Meantime,  secure  within  thy  ships,  from  far 
Behold  the  field,  nor  mingle  in  the  war. 

The  sire  of  gods  and  all  the  ethereal  train, 

On  the  warm  limits  of  the  farthest  main,  555 

Now  mix  with  mortals,  nor  disdain  to  grace 
The  feasts  of  ^Ethiopia’s  blameless  race  ; 

Twelve  days  the  powers  indulge  the  genial  rite, 
Returning  with  the  twelfth  revolving  light. 

Then  will  I  mount  the  brazen  dome,  and  move  560 
The  high  tribunal  of  immortal  Jove.” 


525  Neptune. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  I. 


53 


The  goddess  spoke  :  the  rolling  waves  unclose 
Then  down  the  deep  she  plunged  from  whence  she 
rose, 

And  left  him  sorrowing  on  the  lonely  coast, 

In  wild  resentment  for  the  fair  he  lost.  5G5 

In  Chrysa's  port  now  sage  Ulysses  rode; 

Beneath  the  deck  the  destined  victims  stow’d  ; 

The  sails  they  furl’d,  they  lash’d  the  mast  aside, 

And  dropp’d  their  anchors,  and  the  pinnace  tied. 
Next  on  the  shore  their  hecatomb  they  land,  570 
Chryseis  last  descending  on  the  strand. 

Her,  thus  returning  from  the  furrow’d  main, 

Ulysses  led  to  Phoebus’  sacred  fane ; 

Where  at  his  solemn  altar,  as  the  maid 
He  gave  to  Ohryses,  thus  the  hero  said:  575 

“Hail,  reverend  priest !  To  Phoebus’  awful  dome 
A  suppliant  I  from  great  Atrides  come  : 

Unransorti’d  here  receive  the  spotless  fair ; 

Accept  the  hecatomb  the  Greeks  prepare  ; 

And  may  thy  god  who  scatters  darts  around,  580 
Atoned  by  sacrifice,  desist  to  wound.” 

At  this,  the  sire  embraced  the  maid  again, 

So  sadly  lost,  so  lately  sought  in  vain. 

Then  near  the  altar  of  the  darting  king, 

Disposed  in  rank  their  hecatomb  they  bring:  585 

With  water  purify  their  hands,  and  take 
The  sacred  offering  of  the  salted  cake  ; 

While  thus  with  arms  devoutly  raised  in  air, 

And  solemn  voice,  the  priest  directs  his  prayer: 

“  God  of  the  silver  bow,  thy  ear  incline,  590 

Whose  power  encircles  Cilia  the  divine  ; 

Whose  sacred  eye  thyTenedos  surveys, 

And  gilds  fair  Chrysa  with  distinguish’d  rays  ! 

If,  fired  to  vengeance  at  thy  priest’s  request, 

Thy  direful  darts  inflict  the  raging  pest ;  595 

Once  more  attend  !  avert  the  wasteful  wo, 

And  smile  propitious,  and  unbend  thy  bow.” 

So  Chryses  pray’d.  Apollo  heard  his  prayer  ; 

And  now  the  Greeks  their  hecatomb  prepare  ; 

£  2 


54 


HOMER. 


Between  their  horns  the  salted  barley  threw,  600 
And  with  their  heads  to  heaven  the  victims  slew  : 
The  limbs  they  sever  from  the  enclosing  hide  ; 

The  thighs,  selected  to  the  gods,  divide: 

On  these,  in  double  cauls  involved  with  art, 

The  choicest  morsels  lay  from  every  part.  605 
The  priest  himself  before  his  altar  stands, 

And  burns  the  offering  with  his  holy  hands, 

Pours  the  black  wine,  and  sees  the  flames  aspire ; 
The  youths  with  instruments  surround  the  fire  : 

The  thighs  thus  sacrificed,  and  entrails  dress’d,  610 
The  assistants  part,  transfix,  and  roast  the  rest ; 
Then  spread  the  tables,  the  repast  prepare, 

Each  takes  his  seat,  and  each  receives  his  share. 
When  now  the  rage  of  hunger  was  repress’d, 

With  pure  libations  they  conclude  the  feast ;  615 

The  youths  with  wine  the  copious  goblets  crown’d, 
And  pleased,  dispense  the  flowing  bowls  around. 
With  hymns  divine  the  joyous  banquet  ends, 

The  paeans  lengthen’d  till  the  sun  descends  ; 

The  Greeks,  restored,  the  grateful  notes  prolong ;  620 
Apollo  listens,  and  approves  the  song. 

’Twas  night;  the  chiefs  beside  their  vessel  lie, 
Till  rosy  morn  had  purpled  o’er  the  sky : 

Then  launch,  and  hoist  the  mast :  indulgent  gales, 
Supplied  by  Phoebus,  fill  the  swelling  sails  :  625 

The  milk-white  canvass  bellying  as  they  blow, 

The  parted  ocean  foams  and  roars  below: 

Above  the  bounding  billows  swift  they  flew, 

Till  now  the  Grecian  camp  appear’d  in  view. 

Far  on  the  beach  they  haul  their  bark  to  land  ;  630 
(The  crooked  keel  divides  the  yellow  sand  ;) 

Then  part,  where  stretch’d  along  the  winding  bay 
The  ships  and  tents  in  mingled  prospect  lay. 

But  raging  still,  amid  bis  navy  sat 
The  stern  Achilles,  steadfast  in  his  hate;  635 

Nor  mix’d  in  combat,  nor  in  council  join’d  ; 

But  wasting  cares  lay  heavy  on  his  mind: 


ILIAD. — BOOK  I. 


55 


In  his  black  thoughts  revenge  and  slaughter  roll, 

And  scenes  of  blood  rise  dreadful  in  his  soul. 

Twelve  days  were  pass’d,  and  now  the  dawning 
light  640 

The  gods  had  summon’d  to  the  Olympian  height ; 
Jove  first  ascending  from  the  watery  bowers, 

Leads  the  long  order  of  ethereal  powers. 

When  like  the  morning  mist  in  early  day, 

Rose  from  the  flood  the  daughter  of  the  sea  ;  645 

And  to  the  seats  divine  her  flight  address’d. 

There,  far  apart,  and  high  above  the  rest, 

The  Thunderer  sat;  where  old  Olympus  shrouds 
His  hundred  heads  in  heaven,  and  props  the  clouds. 
Suppliant  the  goddess  stood :  one  hand  she  placed 
Beneath  his  beard,  and  one  his  knees  embraced.  651 
“  If  e’er,  oh  father  of  the  gods  !”  she  said, 

“  My  words  could  please  thee,  or  my  actions  aid ; 
Some  marks  of  honour  on  my  son  bestow, 

And  pay  in  glory  what  in  life  you  owe.  655 

Fame  is  at  least  by  heavenly  promise  due 
To  life  so  short,  and  now  dishonour’d  too. 

Avenge  this  wrong,  oh  ever  just  and  wise! 

Let  Greece  be  humbled,  and  the  Trojans  rise ; 

Till  the  proud  king,  and  all  the  Achaian  race,  660 
Shall  heap  with  honours  him  they  now  disgrace.” 

Thus  Thetis  spoke  ;  but  Jove  in  silence  held 
The  sacred  counsels  of  his  breast  conceal’d. 

Not  so  repulsed,  the  goddess  closer  press’d,  664 
Still  grasp’d  his  knees,  and  urged  the  dear  request. 

“  Oh,  sire  of  gods  and  men!  thy  suppliant  hear; 
Refuse,  or  grant;  for  what  has  Jove  to  fear  1 
Or,  oh!  declare,  of  all  the  powers  above, 

Is  wretched  Thetis  least  the  care  of  Jove  ?” 

She  said;  and  sighing  thus  the  god  replies,  670 
Who  rolls  the  thunder  o’er  the  vaulted  skies  : 

“  What  hast  thou  ask’d  1  Ah,  why  should  Jove 
engage 

In  foreign  contests  and  domestic  rage, 


56 


HOMER. 


The  gods’  complaints,  and  Juno’s  fierce  alarms, 
While  I,  too  partial,  aid  the  Trojan  arms  1  675 

Go,  lest  the  haughty  partner  of  my  sway 
With  jealous  eyes  thy  close  access  survey: 

But  part  in  peace,  secure  thy  prayer  is  sped  ; 
Witness  the  sacred  honours  of  our  head, 

The  nod  that  ratifies  the  will  divine,  680 

The  faithful,  fix’d,  irrevocable  sign  ; 

This  seals  thy  suit,  and  this  fulfils  thy  vows.” 

He  spoke,  and  awful  bends  his  sable  brows, 

Shakes  his  ambrosial  curls,  and  gives  the  nod ; 

The  stamp  of  fate,  and  sanction  of  the  god :  685 

High  heav’n  with  trembling  the  dread  signal  took, 
And  all  Olympus  to  the  centre  shook. 

Swift  to  the  seas  profound  the  goddess  flies, 

Jove  to  his  starry  mansion  in  the  skies. 

The  shining  synod  of  the  immortals  wait  690 

The  coming  god,  and  from  their  thrones  of  state 
Arising  silent,  rapt  in  holy  fear, 

Before  the  majesty  of  heaven  appear. 

Trembling  they  stand,  while  Jove  assumes  the  throne, 
All,  but  the  god’s  imperious  queen,  alone  :  695 

Late  had  she  view’d  the  silver-footed  dame, 

And  all  her  passions  kindled  into  flame. 

“  Say,  art  ful  manager  of  heaven,”  she  cries, 

“  Who  now  partakes  the  secrets  of  the  skies? 

Thy  Juno  knows  not  the  decrees  of  fate,  700 

In  vain  the  partner  of  imperial  state. 

What  favourite  goddess  then  those  cares  divides, 
Which  Jove  in  prudence  from  his  consort  hides  T” 
To  this  the  Thunderer  :  “  Seek  not  thou  to  find 
The  sacred  counsels  of  almighty  mind  :  705 

Involved  in  darkness  lies  the  great  decree, 

Nor  can  the  depths  of  fate  be  pierced  by  thee. 

What  fits  thy  knowledge  thou  the  first  shalt  know  ; 
The  first  of  gods  above  and  men  below  ; 

But  thou,  nor  they,  shall  search  the  thoughts  that 
roll  710 

Deep  in  the  close  recesses  of  my  soul.” 


ILIAD. — BOOK  I. 


57 


Full  on  the  sire  the  goddess  of  the  shies 
Roll’d  the  large  orbs  of  her  majestic  eyes, 

And  thus  return’d  :  “  Austere  Saturnius,  say, 

From  whence  this  wrath,  or  who  controls  thy  sway  ? 
Thy  boundless  will,  for  me,  remains  in  force,  716 
And  all  thy  counsels  take  the  destined  course. 

But  ’tis  for  Greece  I  fear  :  for  late  was  seen 
In  close  consult  the  silver-footed  queen. 

Jove  to  his  Thetis  nothing  could  deny,  720 

Nor  was  the  signal  vain  that  shook  the  sky. 

What  fatal  favour  has  th|  goddess  won, 

To  grace  her  fierce  inexorable  son  1 
Perhaps  in  Grecian  blood  to  drench  the  plain, 

And  glut  his  vengeance  with  my  people  slain.”  725 
Then  thus  the  god :  “  Oh  restless  fate  of  pride, 
That  strives  to  learn  what  heaven  resolves  to  hide  ! 
Vain  is  the  search,  presumptuous  and  abhorr’d, 
Anxious  to  thee,  and  odious  to  thy  lord. 

Let  this  suffice,  the  immutable  decree  730 

No  force  can  shake :  what  is,  that  ought  to  be. 
Goddess,  submit,  nor  dare  our  will  withstand, 

But  dread  the  power  of  this  avenging  hand ; 

The  united  strength  of  all  the  gods  above 
In  vain  resist  the  omnipotence  of  Jove.”  735 

The  Thunderer  spoke,  nor  durst  the  queen  reply; 
A  reverend  horror  silenced  all  the  sky. 

The  feast  disturbed,  with  sorrow  Vulcan  saw 
His  mother  menaced,  and  the  gods  in  awe ; 

Peace  at  his  heart,  and  pleasure  his  design,  740 
Thus  interposed  the  architect  divine  : 

“  The  wretched  quarrels  of  the  mortal  state 
Are  far  unworthy,  gods,  of  your  debate  : 

Let  men  their  days  in  senseless  strife  employ; 

We,  in  eternal  peace  and  constant  joy.  745 

Thou,  goddess  mother,  with  our  sire  comply, 

Nor  break  the  sacred  union  of  the  sky  ; 

Lest,  roused  to  rage,  he  shake  the  bless’d  abodes, 
Launch  the  red  lightning,  and  dethrone  the  gods. 


58 


HOMER. 


Tf  you  submit,  the  Thunderer  stands  appeased  ;  750 
The  gracious  power  is  willing  to  be  pleased.” 

Thus  Vulcan  spoke  ;  and  rising  with  a  bound, 

The  double  bowl  with  sparkling  nectar  crown’d, 
Which  held  to  Juno  in  a  cheerful  way, 

“  Goddess,”  he  cried,  “be  patient,  and  obey;  755 
Dear  as  you  are,  if  Jove  his  arm  extend, 

I  can  but  grieve,  unable  to  defend. 

What  god  so  daring  in  your  aid  to  move, 

Or  lift  his  hand  against  the  force  of  Jove  ? 

Once  in  your  cause  I  feltjiis  matchless  might,  760 
Hurl’d  headlong  downward  from  the  ethereal  height ; 
Toss’d  all  the  day  in  rapid  circles  round  ; 

Nor  till  the  sun  descended  touch’d  the  ground: 
Breathless  I  fell,  in  giddy  motion  lost ; 

The  Sinthians  raised  me  on  the  Lemnian  coast.”  765 
He  said,  and  to  her  hands  the  goblet  heaved. 
Which,  with  a  smile,  the  white-arm’d  queen  received. 
Then  to  the  rest  he  fill’d  ;  and  in  his  turn, 

Each  to  his  lips  applied  the  nectar’d  urn. 

Vulcan  with  awkward  grace  his  office  plies,  770 
And  unextinguish’d  laughter  shakes  the  skies. 

Thus  the  bless’d  gods  the  genial  day  prolong, 

In  feasts  ambrosial,  and  celestial  song. 

Apollo  tuned  the  lyre  ;  the  muses  round 
With  voice  alternate  aid  the  silver  sound.  775 
Meantime  the  radiant  sun,  to  mortal  sight 
Descending  swift,  roll’d  down  the  rapid  light. 

Then  to  their  starry  domes  the  gods  depart, 

The  shining  monuments  of  Vulcan’s  art : 

Jove  on  his  couch  reclined  his  awful  head,  780 
And  Juno  slumber’d  on  the  golden  bed. 


BOOK  II 


ARGUMENT. 

.  i 

The  Trial  of  the  Army,  and  Catalogue  of  the  Forces. 

Jupiter,  in  pursuance  of  the  request  of  Thetis,  sends  a  de 
ceitful  vision  to  Agamemnon,  persuading  him  to  lead  the  army 
to  battle  ;  in  order  to  make  the  Greeks  sensible  of  their  want 
of  Achilles— The  general,  who  is  deluded  with  the  hopes  of 
taking  Troy  without  his  assistance,  but  fears  the  army  was 
discouraged  by  his  absence  and  the  late  plague,  as  well  as  by 
the  length  of  time,  contrives  to  make  trial  of  their  disposition 
by  a  stratagem — He  first  communicates  his  design  to  the 
princes  in  council,  that  he  would  propose  a  return  to  the  sol¬ 
diers,  and  that  they  should  put  a  stop  to  them  if  the  proposal 
was  embraced.  Then  he  assembles  the  whole  host,  and  upon 
moving  for  a  return  to  Greece,  they  unanimously  agree  to  it, 
and  run  to  prepare  the  ships — They  are  detained  by  the  man¬ 
agement  of  Ulysses,  who  chastises  the  insolence  of  Thersites 
— The  assembly  is  recalled,  several  speeches  made  on  the 
occasion,  and  at  length  the  advice  of  Nestor  followed,  which 
was  to  make  a  general  muster  of  the  troops,  and  to  divide 
them  into  their  several  nations,  before  they  proceeded  to  bat¬ 
tle — This  gives  occasion  to  the  poet  to  enumerate  all  the 
forces  of  the  Greeks  and  Trojans,  in  a  large  catalogue. — [The 
time  employed  in  this  book  consists  not  entirely  of  one  day. 
The  scene  lies  in  the  Grecian  camp,  and  on  the  seashore ;  to¬ 
wards  the  end,  it  removes  to  Troy.] 


Now  pleasing  sleep  had  seal’d  each  mortal  eye, 
Stretch’d  in  the  tents  the  Grecian  leaders  lie, 

The  immortals  slumber’d  on  their  thrones  above  ; 
All  but  the  ever- wakeful  eyes  of  Jove. 

To  honour  Thetis’  son  he  bends  his  care,  5 

And  plunge  the  Greeks  in  all  the  woes  of  war; 
Then  bids  an  empty  phantom  rise  to  sight, 

And  thus  commands  the  vision  of  the  night : 


60 


HOMER. 


“  Fly  hence,  deluding  djeam !  and,  light  as  air, 

To  Agamemnon’s  ample  tent  repair;  10 

Bid  him  in  arms  draw  forth  the  embattled  train. 

Lead  all  his  Grecians  to  the  dusty  plain.  . 

Declare,  ev’n  now  ’tis  given  him  to  destroy 
The  lofty  towers  of  wide-extended  Troy. 

For  now  no  more  the  gods  with  fate  contend,  15 
At  Juno’s  suit  the  heavenly  factions  end. 

Destruction  hangs  o’er  yon  devoted  wall, 

And  nodding  Ilion  waits  the  impending  fall.” 

Swift  as  the  word  the  vain  illusion  lied, 

Descends,  and  hovers  o’er  Atrides’  head;  20 

Clothed  in  the  figure  of  the  Pylian  sage, 

Renown’d  for  wisdom,  and  revered  for  age  ; 

Around  his  temples  spreads  his  golden  wing, 

And  thus  the  flattering  dream  deceives  the  king: 

“  Canst  thou,  with  all  a  monarch’s  cares  oppress’d, 
Oh  Atreus’  son !  canst  thou  indulge  thy  rest?  26 
Ill  fits  a  chief  who  mighty  nations  guides, 

Directs  in  council,  and  in  war  presides, 

To  whom  its  safety  a  whole  people  owes, 

To  waste  long  nights  in  indolent  repose.  30 

Monarch,  awake !  ’tis  Jove’s  command  I  bear, 

Thou  and  thy  glory  claim  his  heavenly  care. 

In  just  array  draw  forth  the  embattled  train, 

Lead  all  thy  Grecians  to  the  dusty  plain  ; 

Ev’n  now,  oh  king  !  ’tis  given  thee  to  destroy  35 
The  lofty  towers  of  wide-extended  Troy. 

For  now  no  more  the  gods  with  fate  contend, 

At  Juno’s  suit  the  heavenly  factions  end. 
Destruction  hangs  o’er  yon  devoted  wall, 

And  nodding  Ilion  waits  the  impending  fall.  40 
Awake,  but  waking,  this  advice  approve, 

And  trust  the  vision  that  descends  from  Jove.” 

The  phantom  said  ;  then,  vanish’d  from  his  sight, 
Resolves  to  air,  and  mixes  with  the  night. 

A  thousand  schemes  the  monarch’s  mind  employ ;  45 
Elate  in  thought  he  sacks  untaken  Troy : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  II. 


61 


Vain  as  he  was,  and  to  the  future  blind; 

Nor  saw  what  Jove  and  secret  fate  design’d  ; 
What  mighty  toils  to  either  host  remain, 

What  scenes  of  grief,  and  numbers  of  the  slain! 

Eager  he  rises,  and  in  fancy  hears 

The  voice  celestial  murmuring  in  his  ears. 

First  on  his  limbs  a  slender  vest  he  drew, 

Around  him  next  the  regal  mantle  threw, 

The  embroider’d  sandals  on  his  feet  were  tied; 
The  starry  falchion  glitter’d  at  his  side  ; 

And  last  his  arm  the  massy  sceptre  loads, 
Unstain’d,  immortal,  and  the  gift  of  gods. 

Now  rosy  Morn  ascends  the  court  of  Jove, 

Lifts  up  her  light,  and  opens  day  above. 

The  king  despatch’d  his  heralds  with  commands 
To  range  the  camp  and  summon  all  the  bands  : 
The  gathering  hosts  the  monarch’s  word  obey  ; 
While  to  the  fleet  Atrides  bends  his  way. 

In  his  black  ship  the  Pylian  prince  he  found  ; 
There  calls  a  senate  of  the  peers  around  ; 

The  assembly  placed,  the  king  of  men  express’d 
The  counsels  labouring  in  his  artful  breast. 

“  Friends  and  confederates  !  with  attentive  ear 
Receive  my  words,  and  credit  what  you  hear. 
Late  as  I  slumber’d  in  the  shades  of  night, 

A  dream  divine  appear’d  before  my  sight ; 

Whose  visionary  form  like  Nestor  came, 

The  same  in  habit,  and  in  mien  the  same. 

The  heavenly  phantom  hover’d  o’er  my  head, 
And,  ‘  Dost  thou  sleep,  oh  Atreus’  son?’  he  said: 
‘  Ill  fits  a  chief  who  mighty  nations  guides, 
Directs  in  council,  and  in  war  presides, 

To  whom  its  safety  a  whole  people  owes, 

To  waste  long  nights  in  indolent  repose. 
Monarch,  awake !  ’tis  Jove’s  command  I  bear, 
Thou  and  thy  glory  claim  his  heavenly  care. 

In  just  array  draw  forth  the  embattled  train, 

And  lead  the  Grecians  to  the  dusty  plain ; 
hom. — i.  — r 


50 

55 

60 

65 

70 

75 

80 


62 


HOSIER. 


Ev’n  now,  oh  king  !  ’tis  given  thee  to  destroy  85 
The  lofty  towers  of  wide-extended  Troy. 

For  now  no  more  the  gods  with  fate  contend, 

At  Juno’s  suit  the  heavenly  factions  end. 
Destruction  hangs  o’er  you  devoted  wall, 

And  nodding  Iliou  waits  the  impending  fall.  90 
This  hear  observant,  and  the  gods  obey!’ 

The  vision  spoke,  and  pass’d  in  air  away. 

Now,  valiant  chiefs!  since  Heaven  itself  alarms, 
Unite,  and  rouse  the  sons  of  Greece  to  arms. 

But  first  with  caution  try  what  yet  they  dare,  95 
Worn  with  nine  years  of  unsuccessful  war. 

To  move  the  troops  to  measure  back  the  main, 

Be  mine;  and  yours  the  province  to  detain.” 

He  spoke,  and  sat ;  when  Nestor,  rising,  said — 
(Nestor,  whom  Pylos’  sandy  realms  obey’d  :)  100 

“  Princes  of  Greece,  your  faithful  ears  incline, 

Nor  doubt  the  vision  of  the  powers  divine; 

Sent  by  great  Jove  to  him  who  rules  the  host — 
Forbid  it,  Heaven,  this  warning  should  be  lost! 
Then  let  us  haste,  obey  the  god’s  alarms,  105 

And  join  to  rouse  the  sons  of  Greece  to  arms.” 

Thus  spoke  the  sage.  The  kings  without  delay 
Dissolve  the  council,  and  their  chief  obey  : 

The  sceptred  rulers  lead  ;  the  following  host, 

Pour’d  forth  by  thousands,  darkens  all  the  coast. 

As  from  some  rocky  cliff  the  shepherd  sees  111 
Clustering  in  heaps  oil  heaps  the  driving  bees, 
Rolling,  and  blackening,  swarms  succeeding  swarms, 
With  deeper  murmurs  and  more  hoarse  alarms; 
Dusky  they  spread,  a  close  imbodied  crowd,  115 
And  o’er  the  vale  descends  the  living  cloud. 

So,  from  the  tents  and  ships,  a  lengthening  train 
Spreads  all  the  beach,  and  wide  o’ershades  the  plain  : 
Along  the  region  runs  the  deafening  sound  ; 

Beneath  their  footsteps  groans  the  trembling  ground. 
Fame  flies  before,  the  messenger  of  Jove,  121 

And  shining  soars,  and  claps  her  wings  above. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  II. 


63 


Nine  sacred  heralds  now,  proclaiming  loud 
The  monarch’s  will,  suspend  the  listening  crowd. 
Soon  as  the  throngs  in  order  ranged  appear,  125 
And  fainter  murmurs  died  upon  the  ear, 

The  king  of  kings  his  awful  figure  raised  ; 

High  in  his  hand  the  golden  sceptre  blazed: 

The  golden  sceptre,  of  celestial  frame, 

By  Vulcan  form’d,  from  Jove  to  Hermes  came  :  130 
To  Pelops  he  the  immortal  gift  resign’d; 

The  immortal  gift  great  Pelops  left  behind, 

In  Atreus’  hand,  which  not  with  Atreus  ends, 

To  rich  Thyestes  next  the  prize  descends; 

And  now  the  mark  of  Agamemnon's  reign,  135 
Subjects  all  Argos,  and  controls  the  main. 

On  this  bright  sceptre  now  the  king  reclined, 

And  artful  thus  pronounced  the  speech  design’d : 

“  Ye  sons  of  Mars!  pariake  your  leader’s  care, 
Heroes  of  Greece,  and  brothers  of  the  war!  140 
Of  partial  Jove  with  justice  1  complain, 

And  heavenly  oracdes  believed  in  vain. 

A  safe  return  was  promised  to  our  toils, 

Renown'd,  triumphant,  and  enrich’d  with  spoils. 
Now  shameful  flight  alone  can  save  the  host,  145 
Our  blood,  our  treasure,  and  our  glory  lost. 

So  Jove  decrees,  resistless  lord  of  all ! 

At  whose  command  whole  empires  rise  or  fall: 

He  shakes  the  feeble  props  of  human  trust, 

And  towns  and  armies  humbles  to  the  dust.  150 
What  shame  to  Greece  a  fruitless  war  to  wage, 

Oh,  lasting  shame  in  every  future  age  ! 

Once  great  in  arms,  the  common  scorn  we  grow, 
Repulsed  and  baffled  by  a  feeble  foe. 

So  small  their  number,  that  if  wars  were  ceased,  155 
And  Greece  triumphant  held  a  general  feast, 

All  rank’d  by  tens  ;  whole  decades  when  they  dine 
Must  want  a  Trojan  slave  to  pour  the  wine. 

But  other  forces  have  our  hopes  o’erthrown, 

And  Troy  prevails  by  armies  not  her  own.  160 


64 


HOMER. 


Now  nine  long  years  of  mighty  Jove  are  run 
Since  first  the  labours  of  this  war  begun  : 

Our  cordage' torn,  decay’d  our  vessels  lie, 

And  scarce  ensure  the  wretched  power  to  fly. 

Haste  then,  for  ever  leave  the  Trojan  wall !  165 

Our  weeping  wives,  our  tender  children,  call: 

Love,  duty,  safety,  summon  us  away  ; 

’Tis  nature’s  voice,  and  nature  we  obey. 

Our  shatter’d  barks  may  yet  transport  us  o’er, 

Safe  and  inglorious,  to  our  native  shore.  170 

Fly,  Grecians,  fly  !  your  sails  and  oars  employ, 

And  dream  no  more  of  heaven-defended  Troy.” 

His  deep  design  unknown,  the  hosts  approve 
Atrides’  speech.  The  mighty  numbers  move. 

So  roll  the  billows  to  the  Icarian  shore,  175 

From  east  and  south  when  winds  begin  to  roar, 

Burst  their  dark  mansions  in  the  clouds,  and  sweep 
The  whitening  surface  of  the  ruffled  deep. 

And  as  on  corn  when  western  gusts  descend, 

Before  the  blast  the  lofty  harvests  bend  ;  180 

Thus  o’er  the  field  the  moving  host  appears, 

With  nodding  plumes  and  groves  of  waving  spears. 
The  gathering  murmur  spreads,  their  trampling  feet 
Beat  the  loose  sands,  and  thicken  to  the  fleet. 

With  long-resounding  cries  they  urge  the  train  185 
To  fit  the  ships,  and  launch  into  the  main. 

They  toil,  they  sweat,  thick  clouds  of  dust  arise, 
The  doubling  clamours  echo  to  the  skies. 

Ev’n  then  the  Greeks  had  left  the  hostile  plain, 

And  fate  decreed  the  fall  of  Troy  in  vain  ;  190 

But  Jove’s  imperial  queen  their  flight  survey’d, 

And  sighing  thus  bespoke  the  blue-eyed  maid: 

“  Shall  then  the  Grecians  fly  1  Oh  dire  disgrace  ! 
And  leave  unpunish’d  this  perfidious  race  1 
Shall  Troy,  shall  Priam,  and  the  adulterous  spouse, 
In  peace  enjoy  the  fruits  of  broken  vows  1  196 

And  bravest  chiefs,  in  Helen’s  quarrel  slain. 

Lie  unrevenged  on  yon  detested  plain  1 


ILIAD. — BOOK  II.  65 

No :  let  my  Greeks,  unmoved  by  vain  alarms, 

Once  more  refulgent  shine  in  brazen  arms.  200 
Haste,  goddess,  haste  !  the  flying  host  detain, 

Nor  let  one  sail  be  hoisted  on  the  main.” 

Pallas  obeys,  and  from  Olympus’  height, 

Swift  to  the  ships  precipitates  her  flight. 

Ulysses,  first  in  public  cares,  she  found,  205 

For  prudent,  counsel  like  the  gods  renown’d  : 
Oppress’d  with  generous  grief  the  hero  stood, 

Nor  drew  his  sable  vessels  to  the  flood. 

“  And  is  it  thus,  divine  Laertes’  son  ! 

Thus  fly  the  Greeks!”  the  martial  maid  begun,  210 
“Thus  to  their  country  bear  their  own  disgrace, 
And  fame  eternal  leave  to  Priam’s  race? 

Shall  beauteous  Helen  still  remain  unfreed, 

Still  unrevenged  a  thousand  heroes  bleed  ? 

Haste,  generous  Ithacus  !  prevent  the  shame,  215 
Recall  your  armies,  and  your  chiefs  reclaim. 

Your  own  resistless  eloquence  employ, 

And  to  the  immortals  trust  the  fall  of  Troy.” 

The  voice  divine  confess’d  the  warlike  maid, 
Ulysses  heard,  nor  uninspired  obey'd  :  220 

Then  meeting  first  Atrides,  from  his  hand 
Received  the  imperial  sceptre  of  command. 

Thus  graced,  attention  and  respect  to  gain, 

He  runs,  he  flies  through  all  the  Grecian  train, 

Each  prince  of  name,  or  chief  in  arms  approved,  225 
He  fired  with  praise,  or  with  persuasion  moved  : 

“  Warriors  like  you,  with  strength  and  wisdom 
bless’d, 

By  brave  examples  should  confirm  the  rest. 

The  monarch’s  will  not  yet  reveal’d  appears; 

He  tries  our  courage,  but  resents  our  fears.  230 
The  unwary  Greeks  his  fury  may  provoke; 

Not  thus  the  king  in  secret  council  spoke. 

Jove  loves  our  chief,  from  Jove  his  honour  springs ; 
Beware  !  for  dreadful  is  the  wrath  of  kings. 

“  But  if  a  clamorous  vile  plebeian  rose,  235 

Him  with  reproof  he  check’d,  or  tamed  with  blows. 


66 


HOMER. 


Be  still,  thou  slave,  and  to  thy  betters  yield ! 
Unknown  alike  in  council  and  in  field ! 

Ye  gods,  what  dastards  would  our  host  command  I 
Swept  to  the  war,  the  lumber  of  a  land.  240 

Be  silent,  wretch,  and  think  not  here  allow’d - 
That  worst  of  tyrants,  a  usurping  crowd. 

To  one  sole  monarch  Jove  commits  the  sway; 

His  are  the  laws,  and  him  let  all  obey.” 

With  words  like  these  the  troops  Ulysses  ruled, 
The  loudest  silenced,  and  the  fiercest  cool’d.  246 
Back  to  the  assembly  roll  the  thronging  train, 
Desert  the  ships,  and  pour  upon  the  plain. 
Murmuring  they  move,  as  when  old  Ocean  roars, 
And  heaves  huge  surges  to  the  trembling  shores ;  250 
The  groaning  banks  are  burst  with  bellowing  sound, 
The  rocks  remurmur  and  the  deeps  rebound. 

At  length  the  tumult  sinks,  the  noises  cease, 

And  a  still  silence  lulls  the  camp  to  peace. 
Thersites  only  clamour’d  in  the  throng,  255 

Loquacious,  loud,  and  turbulent  of  tongue  : 

Awed  by  no  shame,  by  no  respect  controll’d, 

In  scandal  busy,  in  reproaches  bold  : 

With  witty  malice  studious  to  defame  ; 

Scorn  all  his  joy,  and  laughter  all  his  aim.  260 
But  chief  he  gloried,  with  licentious  style, 

To  lash  the  great,  and  monarchs  to  revile. 

His  figure  such  as  might  his  soul  proclaim ; 

One  eye  was  blinking,  and  one  leg  was  lame : 

His  mountain  shoulders  half  his  breast  o’erspread, 
Thin  hairs  bestrew’d  his  long  misshapen  head.  266 
Spleen  to  mankind  his  envious  heart  possess’d, 

And  much  he  hated  all,  but  most  the  best. 

Ulysses  or  Achilles  still  his  theme  ; 

But  royal  scandal  his  delight  supreme.  270 

Long  had  he  lived  the  scorn  of  every  Greek, 

Vex’d  when  he  spoke,  yet  still  they  heard  him  speak. 
Sharp  was  his  voice;  which,  in  the  shrillest  tone, 
Thus  with  injurious  taunts  attack’d  the  throne  : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  II.  67 

“  Amid  the  glories  of  so  bright  a  reign,  275 

What  moves  the  great  Atrides  to  complain  1 
’Tis  thine  whate’er  the  warrior’s  breast  inflames, 
The  golden  spoil,  and  thine  the  lovely  dames. 

With  all  the  wealth  our  wars  and  blood  bestow, 
Thy  tents  are  crowded,  and  thy  chests  o’erflow. 
Thus  at  full  ease  in  heaps  of  riches  roll’d,  281 
What  grieves  the  monarch  ?  Is  it  thirst  of  gold  ? 
Say,  shall  we  march  with  our  unconquer’d  powers 
(The  Greeks  and  I)  to  Ilion’s  hostile  towers, 

And  bring  the  race  of  royal  bastards  here,  285 
For  Troy  to  ransom  at  a  price  too  dear  1 
But  safer  plunder  thy  own  host  supplies; 

Say,  wouldst  thou  seize  some  valiant  leader’s  prize? 
Or,  if  thy  heart  to  generous  love  be  led, 

Some  captive  fair,  to  bless  thy  kingly  bed?  290 
Whate’er  our  master  craves,  submit  we  must, 
Plagued  with  his  pride,  or  punish’d  for  his  lust. 

Oh  w'omen  of  Achaia  !  men  no  more ! 

Hence  let  us  fly,  and  let  him  waste  his  store 
In  loves  and  pleasures  on  the  Phrygian  shore.  295 
We  may  be  wanted  on  some  busy  day, 

When  Hector  comes  :  so  great  Achilles  may  : 

From  him  he  forced  the  prize  we  jointly  gave, 

From  him,  the  fierce,  the  fearless,  and  the  brave : 
And  durst  he,  as  he  ought,  resent  that  wrong,  300 
This  mighty  tyrant  were  no  tyrant  long.” 

Fierce  from  his  seat  at  this  Ulysses  springs, 

In  generous  vengeance  of  the  king  of  kings. 

With  indignation  sparkling  in  his  eyes, 

He  views  the  wretch,  and  sternly  thus  replies :  305 
“  Peace,  factious  monster!  born  to  vex  the  state, 
With  wrangling  talents  form’d  for  foul  debate  : 

Curb  that  impetuous  tongue,  nor  rashly  vain 
And  singly  mad,  asperse  the  sovereign  reign.  309 
Have  we  not  known  thee,  slave !  of  all  our  host, 
The  man  who  acts  the  least,  upbraids  the  most  ? 
Think  not  the  Greeks  to  shameful  flight  to  bring, 
Nor  let  those  lips  profane  the  name  of  king. 


68 


HOMER. 


For  our  return  we  trust  the  heavenly  powers  ; 

Be  that  their  care;  to  fight  like  men  be  ours.  315  * 
But  grant  the  host  with  wealth  the  general  load, 
Except  detraction,  what  hast  thou  bestow’d  ? 

Suppose  some  hero  should  his  spoils  resign, 

Art  thou  that  hero?  could  those  spoils  be  thine? 
Gods  !  let  me  perish  on  this  hateful  shore,  320 
And  let  these  eyes  behold  my  son  no  more, 

If,  on  thy  next  offence,  this  hand  forbear 
To  strip  those  arms  thou  ill  deserv’st  to  wear, 

Expel  the  council  where  our  princes  meet, 

And  send  thee  scourged  and  howling  through  the 
fleet.”  325 

He  said,  and  cowering  as  the  dastard  bends, 

The  weighty  sceptre  on  his  back  descends  : 

On  the  round  bunch  the  bloody  tumours  rise  ; 

The  tears  spring  starting  from  his  haggard  eyes  : 
Trembling  he  sat,  and  shrunk  in  abject  fears,  330 
From  his  vile  visage  wiped  the  scalding  tears. 

While  to  his  neighbour  each  express’d  his  thought : 

“  Ye  gods!  what  wonders  has  Ulysses  wrought ! 
What  fruits  his  conduct  and  his  courage  yield  : 

Great  in  the  council,  glorious  in  the  field  !  335 

Generous  he  rises  in  the  crown’s  defence, 

To  curb  the  factious  tongue  of  insolence. 

Such  just  examples  on  offenders  shown, 

Sedition  silence,  and  assert  the  throne.” 

’Twas  thus  the  general  voice  the  hero  praised, 
Who,  rising,  high  the  imperial  sceptre  raised  ;  341 
The  blue-eyed  Pallas,  his  celestial  friend, 

(In  form  a  herald)  bade  the  crowds  attend. 

The  expecting  crowds  in  still  attention  hung, 

To  hear  the  wisdom  of  his  heavenly  tongue.  345 
Then  deeply  thoughtful,  pausing  ere  he  spoke, 

His  silence  thus  the  prudent  hero  broke  : 

“  Unhappy  monarch  !  whom  the  Grecian  race, 
With  shame  deserting,  heap  with  vile  disgrace. 

Not  such  at  Argos  was  their  generous  vow,  350 
Once  all  their  voice,  but,  ah !  forgotten  now  : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  II. 


69 


Ne’er  to  return,  was  then  the  common  cry, 

Till  Troy’s  proud  structures  should  in  ashes  lie. 
Behold  them  weeping  for  their  native  shore  ! 

What  could  their  wives  or  helpless  children  more  * 
What  heart  but  melts  to  leave  the  tender  train,  356 
And,  one  short  month,  endure  the  wintry  main? 
Few  leagues  removed,  we  wish  our  peaceful  seat, 
When  the  ship  tosses,  and  the  tempests  beat : 

Then  well  may  this  long  stay  provoke  their  tears, 
The  tedious  length  of  nine  revolving  years.  361 
Not  for  their  grief  the  Grecian  host  1  blame; 

But  vanquish'd  !  baffled !  oh,  eternal  shame ! 

Expect  the  time  to  Troy’s  destruction  given, 

And  try  the  faith  of  Chalcas  and  of  Heaven.  365 
What  pass’d  at  Aulis,  Greece  can  witness  bear, 

And  all  who  live  to  breathe  this  Phrygian  air. 
Beside  a  fountain’s  sacred  brink  we  raised 
Our  verdant  altars,  and  the  victims  blazed  ;  369 

(’T  was  where  the  plane  tree  spread  its  shades  around) 
The  altars  heaved,  and  from  the  crumbling  ground 
A  mighty  dragon  shot,  of  dire  portent ; 

From  Jove  himself  the  dreadful  sign  was  sent. 
Straight  to  the  tree  his  sanguine  spires  he  roll’d, 
And  curl’d  around  in  many  a  winding  fold.  375 
The  topmost  branch  a  mother  bird  possess’d ; 

Eight  callow  infants  fill’d  the  mossy  nest ; 

Herself  the  ninth ;  the  serpent  as  he  hung, 

Stretch’d  his  black  jaws,  and  crash’d  the  crying 
young: 

While  hovering  near,  with  miserable  moan,  380 
The  drooping  mother  wail’d  her  children  gone. 

The  mother  last,  as  round  the  nest  she  flew, 

Seized  by  the  beating  wing,  the  monster  slew: 

Nor  long  survived  ;  to  marble  turn’d  he  stands 
A  lasting  prodigy  on  Aulis’  sands.  385 

Such  was  the  will  of  Jove ;  and  hence  we  dare 
Trust  in  his  omen,  and  support  the  war. 

For  while  around  we  gazed  with  wondering  eyes, 
And  trembling  sought  the  powers  with  sacrifice, 


70 


HOMER. 


Full  of  his  god,  the  reverend  Chaleas  cried,  390 
‘Ye  Grecian  warriors!  lay  your  fears  aside. 

This  wondrous  signal  Jove  himself  displays, 

Of  long,  long  labours,  but  eternal  praise. 

As  many  birds  as  by  the  snake  was  slain, 

So  many  years  the  toils  of  Greece  remain  ;  395 

But  wait  the  tenth,  for  llion’s  fall  decreed.’ 

Thus  spoke  the  prophet,  thus  the  fates  succeed. 
Obey,  ye  Grecians  !  with  submission  wait, 

Nor  let  your  flight  avert  the  Trojan  fate.” 

He  said :  the  shores  with  loud  applauses  sound,  400 
The  hollow  ships  each  deafening  shout  rebound. 
Then  Nestor  thus :  “  These  vain  debates  forbear, 
Ye  talk  like  children,  not  like  heroes  dare. 

Where  now  are  all  your  high  resolves  at  last? 

Your  leagues  concluded,  your  engagements  past  ? 
Vow’d  with  libations  and  with  victims  then,  406 
Now  vanish’d  like  their  smoke  :  the  faith  of  men  ! 
While  useless  words  consume  the  unaetive  hours, 
No  wonder  Troy  so  long  resists  our  powers. 

Rise,  great  Atrides  !  and  with  courage  sway  ;  410 

We  march  to  war  if  thou  direct  the  way. 

But  leave  the  few  that  dare  resist  thy  laws, 

The  mean  deserters  of  the  Grecian  cause, 

To  grudge  the  conquests  mighty  Jove  prepares, 

And  view  with  envy  our  successful  wars.  415 

On  that  great  day  when  first  the  martial  train, 

Big  with  the  fate  of  Ilion,  plough’d  the  main  ; 

Jove,  on  the  right,  a  prosperous  signal  sent. 

And  thunder  rolling  shook  the  firmament. 
Encouraged  hence,  maintain  the  glorious  strife,  420 
Till  every  soldier  grasp  a  Phrygian  wife, 

Till  Helen’s  woes  at  full  revenged  appear, 

And  Troy’s  proud  matrons  render  tear  for  tear. 
Before  that  day,  if  any  Greek  invite 
His  country’s  troops  to  base,  inglorious  flight ;  425 

Stand  forth  that  Greek  !  and  hoist  his  sail  to  fly. 
And  die  the  dastard  first,  who  dreads  to  die. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  II. 


71 


But  now,  oh  monarch !  all  thy  chiefs  advise  : 

Nor  what  they  offer,  thou  thyself  despise, 

Among  those  counsels,  let  not  mine  be  vain  ;  430 

In  tribes  and  nations  to  divide  thy  train  ; 

His  separate  troops  let  every  leader  call, 

Each  strengthen  each,  and  all  encourage  all. 

What  chief,  or  soldier,  <}f  the  numerous  band, 

Or  bravely  fights,  or  ill  obeys  command,  435 

When  thus  distinct  they  war,  shall  soon  be  known, 
And  what  the  cause  of  Ilion  not  o’erthrown  ; 

If  fate  resists,  or  if  our  arms  are  slow, 

If  gods  above  prevent,  or  men  below.” 

To  him  the  king:  “How  much  thy  years  excel 
In  arts  of  council,  and  in  speaking  well !  441 

Oh,  would  the  gods,  in  love  to  Greece,  decree 
But  ten  such  sages  as  they  grant  in  thee ; 

Such  wisdom  soon  should  Priam’s  force  destroy, 
And  soon  should  fall  the  haughty  towers  of  Troy ! 
But  Jove  forbids,  who  plunges  those  he  hates  446 
In  fierce  contention  and  in  vain  debates. 

Now  great  Achilles  from  our  aid  withdraws, 

By  me  provoked  ;  a  captive  maid  the  cause  : 

If  e’er  as  foes  we  join,  the  Trojan  wall  450 

Must  shake,  and  heavy  will  the  vengeance  fall! 

But  now,  ye  warriors,  take  a  short  repast ; 

And,  well  refresh’d,  to  bloody  conflict  haste. 

His  sharpen’d  spear  let  every  Grecian  wield, 

And  every  Grecian  fix  his  brazen  shield  :  455 

Let  all  excite  the  fiery  steeds  of  war, 

And  all  for  combat  fit  the  rattling  car. 

This  day,  this  dreadful  day,  let  each  contend ; 

No  rest,  no  respite,  till  the  shades  descend, 

Till  darkness,  or  till  death,  shall  cover  all,  460 
Let  the  war  bleed,  and  let  the  mighty  fall! 

Till  bathed  in  sweat  be  every  manly  breast, 

With  the  huge  shield  each  brawny  arm  depress’d. 
Each  aching  nerve  refuse  the  lance  to  throw, 

And  each  spent  courser  at  the  chariot  blow.  465 


72 


HOMER. 


Who  dares  inglorious,  in  his  ships  to  stay, 

Who  dares  to  tremble  oil  this  signal  day, 

That  wretch,  too  mean  to  fall  by  martial  power, 

The  birds  shall  mangle,  and  the  dogs  devour.” 

The  monarch  spoke  :  and  straight  a  murmur  rose, 
Loud  as  the  surges  when  the  tempest  blows,  471 
That  dash’d  on  broken  rocks  tumultuous  roar, 

And  foam  and  thunder  on  the  stony  shore. 

Straight  to  the  tents  the  troops  dispersing  bend, 

The  fires  are  kindled,  and  the  smokes  ascend ;  475 
With  hasty  feasts  they  sacrifice,  and  pray 
T’  avert  the  dangers  of  the  doubtful  day. 

A  steer  of  five  years’  age,  large  limb’d  and  fed, 

To  Jove’s  high  altars  Agamemnon  led: 

There  bade  the  noblest  of  the  Grecian  peers  ;  480 

And  Nestor  first,  as  most  advanced  in  years. 

Next  came  Idomeneus,  and  Tydeus’  son, 

Ajax  the  less,  and  Ajax  Telamon; 

Then  wise  Ulysses  in  his  rank  was  placed; 

And  Menelaus  came  unbid,  the  last.  485 

The  chiefs  surround  the  destined  beast,  and  take 
The  sacred  offering  of  the  salted  cake  : 

When  thus  the  king  prefers  his  solemn  prayer: 

“  O  thou !  whose  thunder  rends  the  clouded  air, 
Who  in  the  heaven  of  heavens  hast  fix’d  thy  throne, 
Supreme  of  gods  !  unbounded  and  alone  !  491 

Hear!  and  before  the  burning  sun  descends, 

Before  the  night  her  gloomy  veil  extends, 

Low  in  the  dust  be  laid  yon  hostile  spires. 

Be  Priam’s  palace  sunk  in  Grecian  fires,  495 

In  Hector’s  breast  be  plunged  this  shining  sword, 
And  slaughter’d  heroes  groan  around  their  lord  !” 

Thus  pray’d  the  chief:  his  unavailing  prayer 
Great  Jove  refused,  and  toss’d  in  empty  air : 

The  god,  averse,  while  yet  the  fumes  arose,  500 
Prepared  new  toils,  and  doubled  woes  on  woes. 
Their  prayers  perform’d,  the  chiefs  the  rite  pursue, 
The  barley  sprinkled,  and  the  victim  slew. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  H. 


73 


The  limbs  they  sever  from  the  enclosing  hide, 

The  thighs,  selected  to  the  gods,  divide.  505 

On  these,  in  double  cauls  involved  with  art, 

The  choicest  morsels  lie  from  every  part. 

From  the  cleft  wood  the  crackling  flames  aspire, 
While  the  fat  victim  feeds  the  sacred  fire. 

The  thighs  thus  sacrificed,  and  entrails  dress’d,  510 
The  assistants  part,  transfix,  and  roast  the  rest ; 
Then  spread  the  tables,  the  repast  prepare, 

Each  takes  his  seat,  and  each  receives  his  share. 
Soon  as  the  rage  of  hunger  was  suppress’d,  514 
The  generous  Nestor  thus  the  prince  address’d : 

“  Now  bid  thy  heralds  sound  the  loud  alarms, 

And  call  the  squadrons  sheathed  in  brazen  arms : 
Now  seize  the  occasion,  now  the  troops  survey, 
And  lead  to  war  when  Heaven  directs  the  way.” 

He  said  :  the  monarch  issued  his  commands;  520 
Straight  the  loud  heralds  call  the  gathering  bands. 
The  chiefs  enclose  their  king :  the  host  divide, 

In  tribes  and  nations  rank’d  on  either  side. 

High  in  the  midst  the  blue-eyed  virgin  flies; 

From  rank  to  rank  she  darts  her  ardent  eyes :  525 

The  dreadful  aegis,  Jove’s  immortal  shield, 

Blazed  on  her  arm,  and  lighten’d  all  the  field  : 

Round  the  vast  orb  a  hundred  serpents  roll’d, 
Form’d  the  bright  fringe,  and  seem’d  to  burn  in 
gold.  529 

With  this  each  Grecian’s  manly  breast  she  warms, 
Swells  their  bold  hearts,  and  strings  their  nervous 
arms  ; 

No  more  they  sigh,  inglorious  to  return, 

But  breathe  revenge,  and  for  the  combat  burn. 

As  on  some  mountain,  through  the  lofty  grove, 

The  crackling  flames  ascend,  and  blaze  above;  535 
The  fires  expanding  as  the  winds  arise, 

Shoot  their  long  beams,  and  kindle  half  the  skies  : 

So  from  the  polish’d  arms,  and  brazen  shields, 

A  gleamy  splendour  flashed  along  the  fields. 

HOM. — I. — G 


74 


HOMER. 


Not  less  their  number  than  the  imbodied  cranes, 

Or  milk-white  swans  in  Asms’  watery  plains,  541 
That  o’er  the  windings  of  Cayster’s  springs 
Stretch  their  long  necks,  and  clap  their  rustling 
wings, 

Now  tower  aloft,  and  course  in  airy  rounds ; 

Now  light  with  noise :  with  noise  the  field  resounds. 
Thus  numerous  and  confused,  extending  wide,  546 
The  legions  crowd  Scamander’s  flowery  side  ; 

With  rushing  troops  the  plains  are  cover’d  o’er, 

And  thundering  footsteps  shake  the  sounding  shore. 
Along  the  river’s  level  meads  they  stand,  550 
Thick  as  in  spring  the  flowers  adorn  the  land, 

Or  leaves  the  trees  ;  or  thick  as  insects  play, 

The  wandering  nation  of  a  summer’s  day, 

That,  drawn  by  milky  streams,  at  evening  hours, 

In  gather’d  swarms  surround  the  rural  bowers :  555 
From  pail  to  pail  with  busy  murmur  run 
The  gilded  legions,  glittering  in  the  sun. 

So  throng’d,  so  close,  the  Grecian  squadrons  stood 
In  radiant  arms,  and  thirst  for  Trojan  blood. 

Each  leader  now  his  scatter’d  force  conjoins  560 
In  close  array,  and  forms  the  deepening  lines. 

Not  with  more  ease  the  skilful  shepherd  swain 
Collects  his  flock  from  thousands  on  the  plain. . 

The  king  of  kings,  majestically  tall,  564 

Towers  o’er  his  armies,  and  outshines  them  all : 
Like  some  proud  bull  that  round  the  pastures  leads 
His  subject  herds,  the  monarch  of  the  meads. 

Great  as  the  gods,  the  exalted  chief  was  seen, 

His  strength  like  Neptune,  and  like  Mars  his  mien: 
Jove  o’er  his  eyes  celestial  glories  spread,  570 
And  dawning  conquest  play’d  around  his  head. 

Say,  virgins,  seated  round  the  throne  divine, 
All-knowing  goddesses !  immortal  Nine ! 

Since  earth’s  wide  regions,  heaven’s  unmeasured 
height, 

And  hell’s  abyss,  hide  nothing  from  your  sight,  575 


ILIAD. — BOOK  II. 


75 


(We,  wretched  mortals  !  lost  in  doubts  below, 

But  guess  by  rumour,  and  but  boast  we  know,) 

Oh  say  what  heroes,  fired  by  thirst  of  fame, 

Or  urged  by  wrongs,  to  Troy’s  destruction  came  ? 
To  count  them  all,  demands  a  thousand  tongues, 

A  throat  of  brass,  and  adamantine  lungs.  581 

Daughters  of  Jove,  assist !  inspired  by  you, 

The  mighty  labour  dauntless  1  pursue  : 

What  crowded  aimies,  from  what  climes  they  bring, 
Their  names,  their  numbers,  and  their  chiefs,  I  sing. 


CATALOGUE  OF  THE  SHIPS. 

The  hardy  warriors  whom  Bceotia  bred,  586 
Penelius,  Leitus,  Prothoenor  led : 

With  these  Arcesilaus  and  Clonius  stand, 

Equal  in  arms,  and  equal  in  command. 

These  head  the  troops  that  rocky  Aulis  yields,  590 
And  Eteon’s  hills,  and  Hyrie’s  watery  fields, 

And  Schoenos,  Scholos,  Graea  near  the  main, 

And  Mycalessia’s  ample  piny  plain. 

Those  who  in  Peteon  or  llesion  dwell, 

Or  Harma,  where  Apollo’s  prophet  fell ;  595 

Heleon  and  Hyle,  which  the  springs  o’erflow  ; 

And  Medeon  lofty,  and  Ocalea  low  ; 

Or  in  the  meads  of  Haliartus  stray, 

Or  Thespia,  sacred  to  the  god  of  day. 

Onchestus,  Neptune’s  celebrated  groves ;  600 

Copae,  and  Thisbe,  famed  for  silver  doves, 

For  flocks  Erythrae,  Glissa  for  the  vine ; 

Platea  green,  and  Nisa  the  divine. 

And  they  whom  Thebe’s  well-built  walls  enclose, 
Where  Myde,  Eutresis,  Corone  rose  ;  605 

And  Arne  rich,  with  purple  harvests  crown’d  ; 

And  Anthedon,  Bceotia’s  utmost  bound. 

Full  fifty  ships  they  send,  and  each  conveys 
Twice  sixty  warriors  through  the  foaming  seas. 


76 


HOMfcR. 


To  these  succeed  Aspledon’s  martial  train,  610 
Who  plough  the  spacious  Orchonienian  plain. 

Two  valiant  brothers  rule  the  undaunted  throng, 
Ialmen  and  Ascalaphus  the  strong. 

Sons  of  Astyoche,  the  heavenly  fair, 

Whose  virgin  charms  subdued  the  god  of  war :  615 
(In  Actor’s  court  as  she  retired  to  rest, 

The  strength  of  Mars  the  blushing  maid  compress’d.) 
Their  troops  in  thirty  sable  vessels  sweep, 

With  equal  oars,  the  hoarse-resounding  deep. 

The  Phocians  next  in  forty  barks  repair,  620 
Epistrophus  and  Schedius  head  the  war. 

From  those  rich  regions  where  Cephissus  leads 
His  silver  current  through  the  flowery  meads  ; 

From  Panopea,  Chrysa  the  divine, 

Where  Anemoria’s  stately  turrets  shine,  625 

Where  Pytho,  Daulis,  Cyparissus  stood, 

And  fair  Lilaea  views  the  rising  flood. 

These  ranged  in  order  on  the  floating  tide, 

Close,  on  the  left,  the  bold  Boeotians’  side. 

Fierce  Ajax  led  the  Locrian  squadrons  on,  630 
Ajax  the  less,  Oileus’  valiant  son : 

Skill’d  to  direct  the  flying  dart  aright ; 

Swift  in  pursuit,  and  active  in  the  fight. 

Him,  as  their  chief,  the  chosen  troops  attend, 
Which  Bessa,  Thronus,  and  rich  Cynos  send  :  635 

Opus,  Calliarus,  and  Scarphe’s  bands  ; 

And  those  who  dwell  where  pleasing  Augia  stands, 
And  where  Boagrius  floats  the  lowly  lands, 

Or  in  fair  Tarphe’s  sylvan  seats  reside, 

In  forty  vessels  cut  the  liquid  tide.  640 

Euboe  next  her  martial  sons  prepares, 

And  sends  the  brave  Abantes  to  the  wars : 

Breathing  revenge,  in  arms  they  take  their  way 
From  Chalcis’  walls,  and  strong  Eretria  ; 

The  Isteian  fields,  for  generous  vines  renown’d,  645 
The  fair  Carystos,  and  the  Styrian  ground  ; 

Where  Dios  from  her  towers  o’erlooks  the  plain, 
And  high  Cerinthus  views  the  neighbouring  main. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  II. 


77 


Down  their  broad  shoulders  falls  a  length  of  hair; 
Their  hands  dismiss  not  the  long  lance  in  air;  650 
But  with  protended  spears,  in  fighting  fields, 

Pierce  the  tough  corslets  and  the  brazen  shields. 
Twice  twenty  ships  transport  the  warlike  bands, 
Which  bold  Elphenor,  fierce  in  arms,  commands. 
Full  fifty  more  from  Athens  stem  the  main,  655 
Led  by  Menestheus  through  the  liquid  plain — 
(Athens  the  fair,  where  great  Erectheus  sway’d, 
That  owed  his  nurture  to  the  blue-eyed  maid, 

But  from  the  teeming  furrow  took  his  birth, 

The  mighty  offspring  of  the  foodful  earth.  660 
Him  Pallas  placed  amid  her  wealthy  fane, 

Adored  with  sacrifice  and  oxen  slain  ; 

Where  as  the  years  revolve,  her  altars  blaze, 

And  all  the  tribes  resound  the  goddess’  praise.) 

No  chief  like  thee,  Menestheus  !  Greece  could  yield, 
To  marshal  armies  in  the  dusty  field,  666 

The  extended  wings  of  battle  to  display, 

Or  close  the  imbodied  host  in  firm  array. 

Nestor  alone,  improved  by  length  of  days, 

For  martial  conduct  bore  an  equal  praise.  670 
With  these  appear  the  Salaminian  bands, 

Whom  the  gigantic  Telamon  commands ; 

In  twelve  black  ships  to  Troy  they  steer  their  course, 
And  with  the  great  Athenians  join  their  force. 

Next  move  to  war  the  generous  Argive  train,  675 
From  high  Troezene,  and  Maseta’s  plain, 

And  fair  iEgina  circled  by  the  main : 

Whom  strong  Tyrinthe’s  lofty  walls  surround, 

And  Epidaure  with  viny  harvests  crown’d  ; 

And  where  fair  Asinen  and  Hermion  show  680 
Their  cliffs  above,  and  ample  bay  below. 

These  by  the  brave  Euryalus  were  led, 

Great  Sthenelus,  and  greater  Diomed  ; 

But  chief Tydides  bore  the  sovereign  sway; 

In  fourscore  barks  they  plough  the  watery  way. 

The  proud  Mycene  arms  her  martial  powers,  686 
Cleone,  Corinth,  with  imperial  towers, 

G  2 


78 


HOMER. 


Fair  Arosthyrea,  Ornia’s  fruitful  plain. 

And  ASgion,  and  Adrastus’  ancient  reign: 

And  those  who  dwell  along  the  sandy  shore,  690 
And  where  Pellene  yields  her  fleecy  store, 

Where  Helice  and  Hyperesia  lie, 

And  Gonoessa’s  spires  salute  the  sky, 

Great  Agamemnon  rules  the  numerous  band, 

A  hundred  vessels  in  long  order  stand,  695 

And  crowded  nations  wait  his  dread  command. 

High  on  the  deck  the  king  of  men  appears, 

And  his  refulgent  arms  in  triumph  wears  ; 

Proud  of  his  host,  unrivall’d  in  his  reign, 

In  silent  pomp  he  moves  along  the  main.  700 

His  brother  follows,  and  to  vengeance  warms 
The  hardy  Spartans,  exercised  in  arms  ; 

Phares  and  Brysia’s  valiant  troops,  and  those 
Whom  Lacedaemon’s  lofty  hills  enclose  : 

Or  Messe’s  towers,  for  silver  doves  renown’d,  705 
Amyclae,  Laas,  Augia’s  happy  ground, 

And  those  whom  CEtylos’  low  walls  contain, 

And  Helos,  on  the  margin  of  the  main  : 

These,  o’er  the  bending  ocean,  Helen’s  cause, 

In  sixty  ships  with  Menelaus  draws:  710 

Eager  and  loud  from  man  to  man  he  flies, 

Revenge  and  fury  flaming  in  his  eyes; 

While  vainly  fond,  in  fancy  oft  he  hears 
The  fair  one’s  grief,  and  sees  her  falling  tears. 

In  ninety  sail,  from  Pylos’  sandy  coast,  715 

Nestor  the  sage  conducts  his  chosen  host : 

From  Amphigenia’s  ever-fruitful  land  ; 

Where  jEpy  high,  and  little  Pteleon  stand  ; 

Where  beauteous  Arene  her  structures  shows. 

And  Thyron’s  walls  Alpheus’  streams  enclose  :  720 
And  Dorion,  famed  for  Thamvris’  disgrace, 

Superior  once  of  all  the  tuneful  race, 

Till,  vain  of  mortals’  empty  praise,  he  strove 
To  match  the  seed  of  cloud-compelling  Jove  ! 

Too  daring  bard  !  whose  unsuccessful  pride  725 
The  immortal  muses  in  their  art  defied. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  II. 


79 


The  avenging1  muses  of  the  light  of  day 
Deprived  his  eyes,  and  snatch'd  his  voice  away; 

No  more  his  heavenly  voice  was  heard  to  sing, 

His  hand  no  more  awaked  the  silver  string.  730 
Where  under  high  Cyllene,  crown’d  with  wood, 
The  shaded  tomb  of  old  iEgyptus  stood  ; 

From  Ripe,  Stratie,  Tegea’s  bordering  towns, 

The  Phenean  fields,  and  Orchomenian  downs, 
Where  the  fat  herds  in  plenteous  pasture  rove ;  735 
And  Stymphelus  with  her  surrounding  grove, 
Parrhasia,  on  her  snowy  cliffs  reclined, 

And  high  Enispe,  shook  by  wintry  wind, 

And  fair  Mantinea’s  ever-pleasing  site  ; 

In  sixty  sail  the  Arcadian  bands  unite.  740 

Bold  Agapenor,  glorious  at  their  head, 

(Ancaeus’  son,)  the  mighty  squadron  led. 

Their  ships  supplied  by  Agamemnon’s  care, 
Through  roaring  seas  the  wondering  warriors  bear; 
The  first  to  battle  on  the  appointed  plain,  745 

But  new  to  all  the  dangers  of  the  main. 

Those,  where  fair  Helis  and  Buprasium  join ; 
Whom  Hyrmiti,  here,  and  Myrsinus  confine, 

And  bounded  there,  where  o’er  the  valleys  rose 
The  Olenian  rock  ;  and  where  Alisium  flows  ;  750 

Beneath  four  chiefs  (a  numerous  army)  came : 

The  strength  and  glory  of  the  Epean  name. 

In  separate  squadrons  these  their  train  divide, 

Each  leads  ten  vessels  through  the  yielding  tide. 

One  was  Amphimachus,  and  Thalpius  one ;  755 

(Eurytus’  this,  and  that  Teatus’  son  ;) 

Diores  sprung  from  Amarynceus’  line  ; 

And  great  Polyxenus,  of  force  divine. 

But  those  who  view  fair  Elis  o’er  the  seas 
From  the  bless’d  islands  of  the  E^hinades,  760 
In  forty  vessels  under  Meges  move, 

Begot  by  Phyleus,  the  beloved  of  Jove. 

To  strong  Dulichium  from  his  sire  he  fled, 

And  thence  to  Troy  his  hardy  warriors  led. 


8a 


IIOMER. 


Ulysses  follow’d  through  the  watery  road,  765 
A  chief  in  wisdom  equal  to  a  god. 

With  those  whom  Cephalenia’s  isle  enclosed, 

Or  till  their  fields  along  the  coast  opposed;  . 

Or  where  fair  Ithaca  o’erlooks  the  floods, 

Where  high  Neritos  shakes  his  waving  woods,  770 
Where  ASgilipa’s  rugged  sides  are  seen, 

Crocylia  rocky,  and  Zacynthus  green. 

These  in  twelve  galleys  with  vermilion  prores, 
Beneath  his  conduct  sought  the  Phrygian  shores. 

Thoas  came  next,  Andraemon’s  valiant  son,  775 
From  Pleuron’s  walls,  and  chalky  Calydon, 

And  rough  Pylene,  and  the  Olenian  steep, 

And  Chalchis,  beaten  by  the  rolling  deep. 

He  led  the  warriors  from  the  Etolian  shore, 

For  now  the  sons  of  CEnus  were  no  more.  780 
The  glories  of  the  mighty  race  were  fled  ; 

(Eneus  himself,  and  Meleager  dead. 

To  Thoas’  care  now  trust  the  martial  train, 

His  forty  vessels  follow  through  the  main. 

Next  eighty  barks  the  Cretan  king  commands,  785 
Of  Gnossus,  Lyctus,  and  Gortyna’s  bands, 

And  those  who  dwell  where  Rhytion’s  domes  arise, 
Or  white  Lycastus  glitters  to  the  skies, 

Or  where  by  Phaestus  silver  Jardan  runs; 

Crete’s  hundred  cities  pour  forth  all  her  sons.  790 
These  march’d,  Idomeneus,  beneath  thy  care, 

And  Merion,  dreadful  as  the  god  of  war. 

Tlepolemus,  the  son  of  Hercules, 

Led  nine  swift  vessels  through  the  foamy  seas; 
From  Rhodes,  with  everlasting  sunshine  bright,  795 
Jalyssus,  Lindus,  and  Camirus  white. 

His  captive  mother  fierce  Alcides  bore, 

From  Ephyr’s  walls,  and  Selle’s  winding  shore, 
Where  mighty  towns  in  ruins  spread  the  plain, 

And  saw  their  blooming  warriors  early  slain.  800 
The  hero,  when  to  manly  years  he  grew, 

Alcides’  uncle,  old  Licymnius,  slew ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  II. 


81 


For  this,  constrain’d  to  quit  his  native  place, 

And  shun  thq  vengeance  of  the  Herculean  race, 

A  fleet  he  built,  and  with  a  numerous  train  805 
Of  willing  exiles,  wander’d  o’er  the  main; 

Where  many  seas  and  many  sufferings  past, 

On  happy  Rhodes  the  chief  arrived  at  last : 

There  in  three  tribes  divides  his  native  band, 

And  rules  them  peaceful  in  a  foreign  land  ;  810 

Increased  and  prosper’d  in  their  new  abodes, 

By  mighty  Jove,  the  sire  of  men  and  gods, 

With  joy  they  saw  the  growing  empire  rise, 

And  showers  of  wealth  descending  from  the  skies. 

Three  ships  with  Nireus  sought  the  Trojan  shore, 
Nireus,  whom  Aglae  to  Charopus  bore;  816 

Nireus,  in  faultless  shape  and  blooming  grace, 

The  loveliest  youth  of  all  the  Grecian  race  ; 

Pelides  only  match’d  his  early  charms; 

But  few  his  troops,  and  small  his  strength  in  arms. 

Next  thirty  galleys  cleave  the  liquid  plain,  821 
Of  those  Calydnae’s  sea-girt  isles  contain; 

With  them  the  youth  of  Nisyrus  repair, 

Casus  the  strong,  and  Crapathus  the  fair ; 

Cos,  where  Eurypylus  possess’d  the  sway,  825 
Till  great  Alcides  made  the  realms  obey: 

These  Antiphus  and  bold  Phidippus  bring, 

Sprung  from  the  god  by  Thessalus  the  king. 

Now,  muse,  recount  Pelasgic  Argos’  powers, 
From  Alos,  Alope,  and  Trechin’s  towers  ;  830 

From  Phthia’s  spacious  vales ;  and  Hella,  bless’d 
With  female  beauty  far  beyond  the  rest, 

Full  fifty  ships  beneath  Achilles’  care, 

The  Achaians,  Myrmidons,  Hellenians  bear; 
Thessalians  all,  though  various  in  their  name ;  835 
The  same  their  nation,  and  their  chief  the  same. 

But  now  inglorious,  stretch’d  along  the  shore, 

They  hear  the  brazen  voice  of  war  no  more ; 

No  more  the  foe  they  face  in  dire  array : 

Close  in  his  fleet  their  angry  leader  lay ;  840 


82 


HOMER. 


Since  fair  Briseis  from  his  arms  was  torn, 

The  noblest  spoil  from  sack’d  Lyrnessws  borne; 
Then,  when  the  chief  the  Theban  walls  o’erthrew, 
And  the  bold  sons  of  great  Evenus  slew, 

There  mourn’d  Achilles,  plunged  in  depth  of  care, 
But  soon  to  rise  in  slaughter,  blood,  and  war.  846 
To  these  the  youth  of  Phylace  succeed, 

Itona,  famous  for  her  fleecy  breed, 

And  grassy  Pteleon  deck’d  with  cheerful  greens, 
The  bowers  of  Ceres, 'and  the  sylvan  scenes,  850 
Sweet  Pyrrhasus,  with  blooming  flow’rets  crown’d, 
And  Antron’s  watery  dens  and  cavern’d  ground. 
These  own’d  as  chief  Protesilas  the  brave, 

Who  now  lay  silent  in  the  gloomy  grave : 

The  first  who  boldly  touch’d  the  Trojan  shore,  855 
And  died  a  Phrygian  lance  with  Grecian  gore ; 
There  lies,  far  distant  from  his  native  plain ; 
Unfinish’d  his  proud  palaces  remain, 

And  his  sad  consort  beats  her  breast  in  vain. 

His  troops  in  forty  ships  Podarces  led,  860 

lphiclus’  son,  and  brother  to  the  dead  ; 

Nor  he  unworthy  to  command  the  host ; 

Yet  still  they  mourn’d  their  ancient  leader  lost. 

The  men  who  Glaphyra’s  fair  soil  partake, 

Where  hills  encircle  Beebe's  lowly  lake,  865 

Where  Phaere  hears  the  neighbouring  waters  fall, 
Or  proud  Iolcus  lifts  her  airy  wall, 

In  ten  black  ships  embark  for  llion’s  shore, 

With  bold  Eumelus,  whom  Alceste  bore : 

All  Pelias’  race  Alceste  far  outshined,  870 

The  grace  and  glory  of  the  beauteous  kind. 

The  troops  Methone  or  Thaumacia  yields, 
Olizon’s  rocks,  or  Melibcea’s  fields, 

With  Philoctetes  sail’d,  whose  matchless  art 
From  the  tough  bow  directs  the  feather’d  dart.  875 
Seven  were  his  ships ;  each  vessel  fifty  row, 

Skill’d  in  his  science  of  the  dart  and  bow  : 

But  he  lay  raging  on  the  Lemnian  ground, 

A  poisonous  Hydra  gave  the  burning  wound; 


ILIAD. — BOOK  II. 


83 


There  groan’d  the  chief  in  agonizing  pain,  880 
Whom  Greece  at  length  shall  wish,  nor  wish  in  vain. 
His  forces  Medon  led  from  Lemnos’  shore, 

Oileus’  son,  whom  beauteous  Rhenabore. 

The  CEchalian  race,  in  those  high  towers  con¬ 
tain’d 

•  Where  once  Eurytus  in  proud  triumph  reign’d,  885 
Or  where  her  humbler  turrets  Tricca  rears, 

Or  where  Ithome,  rough  with  rocks,  appears; 

In  thirty  sail  the  sparkling  waves  divide, 

Which  Podalirius  and  Machaon  guide. 

To  these  his  skill  their  parent  god  imparts,  890 
Divine  professors  of  the  healing  arts. 

The  bold  Ormenian  and  Asterian  bands, 

In  forty  barks  Eurypylus  commands, 

Where  Titan  hides  his  hoary  head  in  snow, 

And  where  Hyperia’s  silver  fountains  flow.  895 
Thy  troops,  Argissa,  Polypcetes  leads, 

And  Eleon,  shelter'd  by  Olympus’  shades, 

Gyrtone’s  warriors;  and  where  Orthe  lies, 

And  Oleoson’s  chalky  cliffs  arise. 

Sprung  from  Pirithous  of  immortal  race,  900 

The  fruit  of  fair  Hippodame’s  embrace, 

(That  day,  when,  hurl’d  from  Pelion’s  cloudy  head, 
To  distant  dens  the  shaggy  centaurs  fled,) 

With  Polypcetes  join’d  in  equal  sway 
Leonteus  leads,  and  forty  ships  obey.  905 

In  twenty  sail  the  bold  Perrhaebians  came 
From  Cyphus,  Guneus  was  their  leader’s  name. 
With  these  the  Enians  join’d,  and  those  who  freeze 
Where  cold  Dodona  lifts  her  holy  trees  ; 

Or  where  the  pleasing  Titaresius  glides,  910 

And  into  Peneus  rolls  his  easy  tides  ; 

Yet  o’er  the  silver  surface  pure  they  flow, 

The  sacred  stream  unmix’d  with  streams  below, 
Sacred  and  awful !  From  the  dark  abodes 
Styx  pours  them  forth,  the  dreadful  oath  of  gods  ! 

n  •  •  *  > 

890  iEsculapius. 


84 


HOMER. 


Last  under  Prothous  the  Magnesians  stood,  916 
Prothous  the  swift,  of  old  Tenthedron’s  blood; 

Who  dwell  where  Pelion,  crown’d  with  piny  boughs, 
Obscures  the  glade,  and  nods  his  shaggy  brows; 

Or  where  through  flowery  Tempe  Peneus  stray’d — 
(The  region  stretch’d  beneath  his  mighty  shade.) 

In  forty  sable  barks  they  stemm’d  the  main  ; 

Such  were  the  chiefs,  and  such  the  Grecian  train. 

Say  next,  oh  muse  !  of  all  Achaia  breeds,  924 
Who  bravest  fought,  or  rein’d  the  noblest  steeds? 
Eumelus’  mares  were  foremost  in  the  chase, 

As  eagles  fleet,  and  of  Pheretian  race  : 

Bred  where  Pieria’s  fruitful  fountains  flow, 

And  train’d  by  him  who  bears  the  silver  bow.  929 
Fierce  in  the  fight  their  nostrils  breathe  a  flame, 
Their  height,  their  colour,  and  their  age  the  same; 
O’er  fields  of  death  they  whirl  the  rapid  car, 

And  break  the  ranks,  and  thunder  through  the  war. 
Ajax  in  arms  the  first  renown  acquired, 

While  stern  Achilles  in  his  wrath  retired —  935 

(His.  was  the  strength  that  mortal  might  exceeds, 
And  his  the  unrivall’d  race  of  heavenly  steeds.) 

But  Thetis’  son  now  shines  in  arms  no  more ; 

His  troops,  neglected  on  the  sandy  shore, 

In  empty  air  their  sportive  javelins  throw,  940 
Or  whirl  the  disk,  or  bend  an  idle  bow: 

Unstain’d  with  blood  his  cover’d  chariots  stand  ; 

The  immortal  coursers  graze  along  the  strand ; 

But  the  brave  chiefs  the  inglorious  life  deplored, 
And  wandering  o’er  the  camp,  required  their  lord. 

Now,  like  a  deluge,  covering  all  around,  946 
The  shining  armies  swept  along  the  ground ; 

Swift  as  a  flood  of  fire,  when  storms  arise, 

Floats  the  wide  field,  and  blazes  to  the  skies. 

Earth  groan’d  beneath  them  ;  as  when  angry  Jove 
Hurls  down  the  forky  lightning  from  above,  951 
On  Arime  when  he  the  thunder  throws, 

And  fires  Typhosus  with  redoubled  blows, 


ILIAD. — BOOK  II. 


85 


Where  Typhon,  press’d  beneath  the  burning  load, 
Still  feels  the  fury  of  the  avenging  god.  955 

But  various  Iris,  Jove’s  commands  to  bear, 

Speeds  on  the  wings  of  winds  through  liquid  air  : 

In  Priam’s  porch  the  Trojan  chiefs  she  found, 

The  old  consulting,  and  the  youths  around. 

Polites’  shape,  the  monarch’s  son,  she  chose,  960 
Who  from  ASsetes’  tomb  observed  the  foes, 

High  on  the  mound  ;  from  whence  in  prospect  lay 
The  fields,  the  tents,  the  navy,  and  the  bay. 

In  this  dissembled  form,  she  hastes  to  bring 
The  unwelcome  message  to  the  Phrygian  king.  965 
“  Cease  to  consult,  the  time  for  action  calls, 

War,  horrid  war,  approaches  to  your  walls  ! 
Assembled  armies  oft  have  I  beheld, 

But  ne’er  till  now  such  numbers  charged  a  field. 
Thick  as  autumnal  leaves  or  driving  sand,  970 
The  moving  squadrons  blacken  all  the  strand. 

Thou,  godlike  Hector !  all  thy  force  employ, 
Assemble  all  the  united  bands  of  Troy  ; 

In  just  array  let  every  leader  call 

The  foreign  troops  :  this  day  demands  them  all.” 

The  voice  divine  the  mighty  chief  alarms  ;  976 

The  council  breaks,  the  warriors  rush  to  arms. 

The  gates  unfolding  pour  forth  all  their  train, 
Nations  on  nations  fill  the  dusky  plain. 

Men,  steeds,  and  chariots,  shake  the  trembling 
ground:  ,  980 

The  tumult  thickens,  and  the  skies  resound. 

Amid  the  plain  in  sight  of  llion  stands 
A  rising  mount,  the  work  of  human  hands; 

(This  for  Myrinne’s  tomb  the  immortals  know, 
Though  call’d  Bateia  in  the  world  below  ;)  985 

Beneath  their  chiefs  in  martial  order  here, 

The  auxiliar  troops  and  Trojan  hosts  appear. 

The  godlike  Hector,  high  above  the  rest, 

Shakes  his  huge  spear,  and  nods  his  plumy  crest: 

In  throngs  around  his  native  bands  repair,  990 
And  groves  of  lances  glitter  in  the  air. 
hom. — t. — h 


86 


HOMER* 


Divine  ./Eneas  brings  the  Dardan  race, 

Anchises’  son  by  Venus’  stolen  embrace, 

Born  in  the  shades  of  Ida’s  secret  grove — 

(A  mortal  mixing  with  the  queen  of  love.)  995 

Archilochus  and  Acamas  divide 

The  warrior’s  toils,  and  combat  by  his  side. 

Who  fair  Zeleia’s  wealthy  valleys  till, 

Fast  by  the  foot  of  Ida’s  sacred  hill, 

Or  drink,  Alsepus,  of  thy  sable  flood,  1000 

WTere  led  by  Pandarus,  of  royal  blood; 

To  whom  his  art  Apollo  deign’d  to  show, 

Graced  with  the  present  of  his  shafts  and  bow. 

From  rich  Apaesus  and  Adreslia’s  towers, 

High  Tereae’s  summits,  and  Pityea’s  bowers;  1005 
From  these  the  congregated  troops  obey 
Young  Amphius’  and  Adrastus’  equal  sway: 

Old  Merops’  sons;  whom,  skill’d  in  fates  to  come, 
The  sire  forewarn’d,  and  prophesied  their  doom  : 
Fate  urged  them  on  ;  the  sire  forewarn'd  in  vain. 
They  rush’d  to  war,  and  perish’d  on  the  plain.  1011 

From  Practius’  stream,  Percote’s  pasture  lands, 
And  Sestos  and  Abydos’  neighbouring  strands, 
From  great  Arisba’s  walls  and  Selle’s  coast, 

Asius  Hyrtacides  conducts  his  host:  1015 

High  on  his  car  he  shakes  the  flowing  reins, 

His  fiery  coursers  thunder  o’er  the  plains. 

The  fierce  Pelasgi  next,  in  war  renown’d, 

March  from  Larissa’s  ever-fertile  ground : 

In  equal  arms  their  brother  leaders  shine,  1020 
Hippothous  bold,  and  Pyleus  the  divine. 

Next  Acamas  and  Pyrous  lead  their  hosts, 

In  dread  array,  from  Thracia’s  wintry  coasts  ; 
Round  the  bleak  realms  where  Hellespontus  roars, 
And  Boreas  beats  the  hoarse-resounding  shores. 

W’ith  great  Euphemus  the  Ciconians  move,  1026 
Sprung  from  Trcezenian  Ceus,  loved  by  Jove. 

Pyraechmus  the  Paeonian  troops  attend, 

Skill’d  in  the  fight  their  crooked  bows  to  bend ; 


ILIAD. — BOOK  II.  87 

From  Axius’  ample  bed  he  leads  them  on,  1030 
Axius,  that  laves  the  distant  Amydon  ; 

Axius,  that  swells  with  all  his  neighbouring  rills, 
And  wide  around  the  floating  region  fills. 

The  Paphlagonians  Pylaemenes  rules, 

Where  rich  Henetia  breeds  her  savage  mules,  1035 
Where  Erythinus’  rising  cliffs  are  seen, 

Thy  groves  of  box,  Cytorus !  ever  green; 

And  where  ^Egialus  and  Cromna  lie, 

And  lofty  Sesamus  invades  the  sky  ; 

And  where  Parthenius,  roll’d  through  banks  of 
flowers,  1040 

Reflects  her  bordering  palaces  and  bowers. 

Here  march’d  in  arms  the  Halizonian  band, 
Whom  Odius  and  Epistrophus  command, 

From  those  far  regions  where  the  sun  refines 
The  ripening  silver  in  Alybean  mines.  1045 

There,  mighty  Chromis  led  the  Mysian  train, 

And  augur  Ennomus,  inspired  in  vain, 

For  stern  Achilles  lopp’d  his  sacred  head, 

Roll’d  down  Scamander  with  the  vulgar  dead. 

Phorcys  and  brave  Ascanius  here  unite  1050 

The  Ascanian  Phrygians,  eager  for  the  fight. 

Of  those  who  round  Maeonia’s  realms  reside, 

Or  whom  the  vales  in  shade  of  Tmolus  hide, 
Mestles  and  Antiphus  the  charge  partake; 

Born  on  the  banks  of  Gyges’  silent  lake.  1055 
There,  from  the  fields  where  wild  Maeander  flows, 
High  Mycale,  and  Latmos’  shady  brows, 

And  proud  Miletus,  came  the  Oarian  throngs, 

With  mingled  clamours,  and  with  barb’rous  tongues. 
Amphimacus  and  Naustes  guide  the  train,  1060 

Naustes  the  bold,  Amphimacus  the  vain, 

Who,  trick’d  with  gold,  and  glittering  on  his  car, 
Rode  like  a  woman  to  the  field  of  war; 

Fool  that  he  was!  by  fierce  Achilles  slain, 

The  river  swept  him  to  the  briny  main  :  1065 

There  whelm’d  with  waves  the  gaudy  warrior  lies; 
The  valiant  victor  seized  the  golden  prize. 


88 


HOMER. 


The  forces  last  in  fair  array  succeed, 
Whichblameless  Glaucus  and  Sarpedon  lead  ; 

The  warlike  bands  that  distant  Lycia  yields,  1070 
Where  gulfy  Xanthus  foams  along  the  fields. 


/ 


\ 


'  , 


V  ■)  • 


» 


•  '•  A' 


\ 


BOOK  III. 


ARGUMENT. 

The  Duel  of  Menelaus  and  Paris. 

rHE  armies  being  ready  to  engage,  a  single  combat  is  agreed  on 
between  Menelaus  and  Paris  (by  the  intervention  of  Hector) 
for  the  determination  of  the  war — Iris  is  sent  to  call  Helena  to 
behold  the  fight ;  she  leads  her  to  the  walls  of  Troy,  where 
Priam  sat  with  his  counsellors,  observing  the  Grecian  leaders 
on  the  plain  below,  to  whom  Helen  gives  an  account  of  the 
chief  of  them— The  kings  on  either  part  take  the  solemn  oath 
for  the  conditions  of  the  combat — The  duel  ensues,  wherein 
Paris  being  overcome,  is  snatched  away  in  a  cloud  by  Venus, 
and  transported  to  his  apartment — She  then  calls  Helen  from 
the  walls,  and  brings  the  lovers  together — Agamemnon,  on  the 
part  of  the  Grecians,  demands  the  restoration  of  Helen,  and 
the  performance  of  the  articles.— [The  three-and-twentieth 
day  still  continues  throughout  this  book.  The  scene  is  some¬ 
times  in  the  fields  before  Troy,  and  sometimes  in  Troy  itself.] 


Thus  by  their  leader’s  care  each  martial  band 
Moves  into  ranks,  and  stretches  o’er  the  land. 

With  shouts  the  Trojans  rushing-  from  afar, 
Proclaim  their  motions,  and  provoke  the  war: 

So  when  inclement  winters  vex  the  plain  5 

W'ith  piercing  frosts,  or  thick  descending  rain, 

To  warmer  seas  the  cranes  imbodied  fly, 

With  noise,  and  order,  through  the  midway  sky: 

To  pigmy  nations  wounds  and  death  they  bring, 

And  all  the  war  descends  upon  the  wing.  10 

Put  silent,  breathing  rage,  resolved  and  skill’d 
By  mutual  aids  to  fix  a  doubtful  field. 


90 


HOMER. 


Swift  march  the  Greeks :  the  rapid  dust  around 
Darkening  arises  from  the  labour’d  ground. 

Thus  from  his  flaggy  wings  when  Notus  sheds  15 
A  night  of  vapours  round  the  mountain-heads, 
Swift-gliding  mists  the  dusky  fields  invade, 

To  thieves  more  grateful  than  the  midnight  shade; 
While  scarce  the  swains  their  feeding  flocks  survey, 
Lost  and  confused  amid  the  thicken’d  day :  20 

So  wrapp’d  in  gathering  dust,  the  Grecian  train, 

A  moving  cloud,  swept  on,  and  hid  the  plain. 

Now  front  to  front  the  hostile  armies  stand, 

Eager  of  fight,  and  only  wait  command; 

When,  to  the  van,  before  the  sons  of  fame  25 

Whom  Troy  sent  forth,  the  beauteous  Paris  came, 
In  form  a  god  !  the  panther's  speckled  hide 
Flow’d  o’er  his  armour  with  an  easy  pride, 

His  bended  bow  across  his  shoulders  flung, 

His  sword  beside  him  negligently  hung;  30 

Two  pointed  spears  he  shook  with  gallant  grace, 
And  dared  the  bravest  of  the  Grecian  race. 

As  thus,  with  glorious  air  and  proud  disdain, 

He  boldly  stalk’d,  the  foremost  on  the  plain, 

Him  Menelaus,  loved  of  Mars,  espies,  35 

With  heart  elated,  and  with  joyful  eyes: 

So  joys  a  lion,  if  the  branching  deer, 

Or  mountain  goat,  his  bulky  prize,  appear; 

Eager  he  seizes  and  devours  the  slain, 

Press’d  by  bold  youths  and  baying  dogs  in  vain.  40 
Thus  fond  of  vengeance,  with  a  furious  bound, 

In  clanging  arms  he  leaps  upon  the  ground 
From  his  high  chariot:  him,  approaching  near, 

The  beauteous  champion  views  with  marks  of  fear ; 
Smit  with  a  conscious  sense,  retires  behind,  45 
And  shuns  the  fate  he  well  deserved  to  find. 

As  when  some  shepherd,  from  the  rustling  trees, 
Shot  forth  to  view,  a  scaly  serpent  sees, 

Trembling  and  pale,  he  starts  with  wild  affright, 
And  all  confused,  precipitates  his  flight :  50 


ILIAD. — BOOK  III. 


91 


So  from  the  king  the  shining  warrior  flies, 

And  plunged  amid  the  thickest  Trojans  lies. 

As  godlike  Hector  sees  the  prince  retreat, 

He  thus  upbraids  him  with  a  generous  heat : 

“  Unhappy  Paris!  but  to  women  brave  !  55 

So  fairly  form’d,  and  only  to  deceive  ! 

Oh,  hadst  thou  died  when  first  thou  saw’st  the  light, 
Or  died  at  least  before  thy  nuptial  rite  ! 

A  better  fate  than  vainly  thus  to  boast, 

And  fly,  the  scandal  of  thy  Trojan  host.  60 

Gods!  how  the  scornful  Greeks  exult  to  see 
Their  fears  of  danger  undeceived  in  thee! 

Thy  figure  promised  with  a  martial  air, 

But  ill  thy  soul  supplies  a  form  so  fair. 

In  former  days,  in  all  thy  gallant  pride,  65 

When  thy  tall  ships  triumphant  stemm’d  the  tide, 
When  Greece  beheld  thy  painted  canvass  flow. 

And  crowds  stood  wondering  at  the  passing  show ; 
Say,  was  it  thus,  with  such  a  baffled  mien, 

You  met  the  approaches  of  the  Spartan  queen,  70 
Thus  from  her  realm  convey’d  the  beauteous  prize, 
And  both  her  warlike  lords  outshined  in  Helen’s 
eyes  ? 

This  deed,  thy  foes’  delight,  thy  own  disgrace, 

Thy  father’s  grief,  and  ruin  of  thy  race  ; 

This  deed  recalls  thee  to  the  proffer’d  fight,  75 
Or  hast  thou  injured  whom  thou  darest  not  right? 
Soon  to  thy  cost  the  field  would  make  thee  know 
Thou  keep’st  the  consort  of  a  braver  foe. 

Thy  graceful  form  instilling  soft  desire, 

Thy  curling  tresses,  and  thy  silver  lyre,  80 

Beauty  and  youth ;  in  vain  to  these  you  trust, 
When  youth  and  beauty  shall  be  laid  in  dust  : 

Troy  yet  may  wake,  and  one  avenging  blow 
Crush  the  dire  author  of  his  country’s  wo.” 

His  silence  here,  with  blushes,  Paris  breaks :  85 

“  ’Tis  just,  my  brother,  what  your  anger  speaks : 


72  Theseus  and  Menelaus. 


92 


HOMER. 


But  who  like  thee  can  boast  a  soul  sedate, 

So  firmly  proof  to  all  the  shocks  of  fate  ? 

Thy  force  like  steel  a  temper’d  hardness  shows, 

Still  edged  to  wound,  and  still  unlired  with  blows ;  90 
Like  steel,  uplifted  by  some  strenuous  swain, 

With  falling  woods  to  strew  the  wasted  plain. 

Thy  gifts  I  praise  ;  nor  thou  despise  the  charms 
With  which  a  lover  golden  Venus  arms  ; 

Soft  moving  speech,  and  pleasing  outward  show,  95 
No  wish  can  gain  them,  but  the  gods  bestow. 

Yet,  wouldst  thou  have  the  proffer’d  combat  stand, 
The  Greeks  and  Trojans  seat  on  either  hand ; 

Then  let  a  midway  space  our  hosts  divide, 

And,  on  that  stage  of  war,  the  cause  be  tried  :  100 

By  Paris  there  the  Spartan  king  be  fought, 

For  beauteous  Helen  and  the  wealth  she  brought: 
And  who  his  rival  can  in  arms  subdue, 

His  be  the  fair,  and  his  the  treasure  too. 

Thus  with  a  lasting  league  your  toils  may  cease,  105 
And  Troy  possess  her  fertile  fields  in  peace; 

Thus  may  the  Greeks  review  their  native  shore, 
Much  famed  for  generous  steeds,  for  beauty  more.” 

He  said.  The  challenge  Hector  heard  with  joy, 
Then  with  his  spear  restrain’d  the  youth  of  Troy,  110 
Held  by  the  midst,  athwart,  and  near  the  foe 
Advanced  with  steps  majestically  slow  : 

While  round  his  dauntless  head  the  Grecians  pour 
Their  stones  and  arrows  in  a  mingled  shower. 

Then  thus  the  monarch,  great  Atrides,  cried:  115 
“  Forbear,  ye  warriors  !  lay  the  darts  aside  : 

A  parley  Hector  asks,  a  message  bears ; 

W7e  know  him  by  the  various  plume  he  wears.” 
Awed  by  his  high  command,  the  Greeks  attend, 

The  tumult  silence,  and  the  fight  suspend.  120 
WThile  from  the  centre  Hector  rolls  his  eyes 
On  either  host,  and  thus  to  both  applies : 

“  Hear,  all  ye  Trojan,  all  ye  Grecian  bands  ! 

What  Paris,  author  of  the  war,  demands. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  III.  93 

Your  shining  swords  within  the  sheath  restrain,  125 
And  pitch  your  lances  in  the  yielding  plain. 

Here  in  the  midst,  in  either  army’s  sight, 

He  dares  the  Spartan  king  to  single  fight ; 

And  wills,  that  Helen  and  the  ravish’d  spoil 

That  caused  the  contest,  shall  reward  the  toil.  130 

Let  these  the  brave  triumphant  victor  grace, 

And  differing  nations  part  in  leagues  of  peace.” 

He  spoke:  in  still  suspense  on  either  side 
Eaqh  army  stood.  The  Spartan  chief  replied : 

“  Me  too,  ye  warriors  !  hear,  whose  fatal  right  135 
A  world  engages  in  the  toils  of  fight. 

To  me  the  labour  of  the  field  resign  ; 

Me  Paris  injured  ;  all  the  war  be  mine. 

Fall  he  that  must  beneath  his  rival’s  arms  ; 

And  live  the  rest,  secure  of  future  harms.  140 

Two  lambs,  devoted  by  your  country’s  rite, 

To  Earth  a  sable,  to  the  Sun  a  white, 

Prepare,  ye  Trojans !  while  a  third  we  bring 
Select  to  Jove,  the  inviolable  king. 

Let  reverend  Priam  in  the  truce  engage,  145 

And  add  the  sanction  of  considerate  age. 

His  sons  are  faithless,  headlong  in  debate, 

And  youth  itself  an  empty  wavering  state  : 

Cool  age  advances  venerably  wise. 

Thus  on  all  hands  its  deep-discerning  eyes ;  150 

Sees  what  befell,  and  what  may  yet  befall, 
Concludes  from  both,  and  best  provides  for  all.” 

The  nations  hear,  with  rising  hopes  possess’d, 
And  peaceful  prospects  dawn  in  every  breast. 

Within  the  lines  they  drew  their  steeds  around,  155 
And  from  their  chariots  issued  on  the  ground : 

Next  all  unbuckling  the  rich  mail  they  wore, 

Laid  their  bright  arms  along  the  sable  shore. 

On  either  side  the  meeting  hosts  are  seen 
With  lances  fix’d,  and  close  the  space  between.  160 
Two  heralds  now  despatched  to  Troy,  invite 
The  Phrygian  monarch  to  the  peaceful  rite ; 


94 


HOMER. 


Talthybius  hastens  to  the  fleet  to  bring 
The  lamb  for  Jove,  the  inviolable  king. 

Meantime,  to  beauteous  Helen,  from  the  skies  165 
The  various  goddess  of  the  rainbow  flies: 

(Like  fair  Laodice  in  form  and  face, 

The  loveliest  nymph  of  Priam’s  royal  race  :) 

Her  in  the  palace,  at  her  loom  she  found; 

The  golden  web  her  own  sad  story  crown’d.  170 
The  Trojan  wars  she  weaved  (herself  the  prize,) 
And  the  dire  triumphs  of  her  fatal  eyes. 

To  whom  the  goddess  of  the  painted  bow  : 

“  Approach,  and  view  the  wondrous  scene  below! 
Each  hardy  Greek,  and  valiant  Trojan  knight,  175 
So  dreadful  late,  and  furious  for  the  fight, 

Now  rest  their  spears,  or  lean  upon  their  shields ; 
Ceased  is  the  war,  and  silent  all  the  fields. 

Paris  alone  and  Sparta’s  king  advance, 

In  single  fight  to  toss  the  beamy  lance  ;  180 

Each  met  in  arms,  the  fate  of  combat  tries, 

Thy  love  the  motive,  and  thy  charms  the  prize.” 

'Phis  said,  the  many-colour’d  maid  inspires 
Her  husband’s  love,  and  wakes  her  former  fires  : 
Her  country,  parents,  all  that  once  were  dear,  185 
Rush  to  her  thought,  and  force  a  tender  tear. 

O’er  her  fair  face  a  snowy  veil  she  threw, 

And,  softly  sighing,  from  the  loom  withdrew : 

Her  handmaids  Clymene  and  ./Ethra  wait 
Her  silent  footsteps  to  the  Scsean  gale.  190 

There  sat  the  seniors  of  the  Trojan  race  : 

(Old  Priam’s  chiefs,  and  most  in  Priam’s  grace :) 
The  king  the  first :  Thymcstes  at  his  side ; 

Lam  pus  and  Clytius,  long  in  counsel  tried; 

Panthus  and  Hicetaon,  once  the  strong;  195 

And  next,  the  wisest  of  the  reverend  throng, 
Antenor  grave,  and  sage  Ucalegon, 

Lean’d  on  the  walls,  and  bask’d  before  the  sun. 
Chiefs,  who  no  more  in  bloody  fights  engage, 

But  wise  through  time,  and  narrative  with  age,  200 


ILIAD. - BOOK  III. 


95 


In  summer  days  like  grasshoppers  rejoice, 

A  bloodless  race,  that  send  a  feeble  voice. 

These,  when  the  Spartan  queen  approach’d  the 
tower, 

In  secret  own’d  resistless  beauty’s  power  : 

They  cried,  “  No  wonder,  such  celestial  charms  205 
For  nine  long  years  have  set  the  world  in  arms  ! 
What  winning  graces !  what  majestic  mien! 

She  moves  a  goddess,  and  she  looks  a  queen  ! 

Yet  hence,  oh  Heaven!  convey  that  fatal  face, 

And  from  destruction  save  the  Trojan  race.”  210 
The  good  old  Priam  welcomed  her;  and  cried, 
“Approach,  my  child,  and  grace  thy  father’s  side. 
See  on  the  plain  thy  Grecian  spouse  appears, 

The  friends  and  kindred  of  thy  former  years. 

No  crime  of  thine  our  present  sufferings  draws,  215 
Not  thou,  but  Heaven’s  disposing  will,  the  cause; 
The  gods  these  armies  and  this  force  employ, 

The  hostile  gods  conspire  the  fate  of  Troy. 

But  lift  thy  eyes,  and  say,  what  Greek  is  he 
(Far  as  from  hence  these  aged  orbs  can  see)  220 
Around  whose  brow  such  martial  graces  shine, 

So  tall,  so  awful,  and  almost  divine  ? 

Though  some  of  larger  stature  tread  the  green, 
None  match  his  grandeur  and  exalted  mien  : 

He  seems  a  monarch,  and  his  country’s  pride.”  225 
Thus  ceased  the  king,  and  thus  the  fair  replied  : 

“  Before  thy  presence,  father,  I  appear, 

With  conscious  shame  and  reverential  fear. 

Ah  !  had  I  died,  ere  to  these  walls  I  fled, 

False  to  my  country,  and  my  nuptial  bed  ;  230 

My  brothers,  friends,  and  daughter  left  behind, 

False  to  them  all,  to  Paris  only  kind  ! 

For  this  I  mourn,  till  grief  or  dire  disease 
Shall  waste  the  form  whose  crime  it  was  to  please. 
The  king  of  kings,  Atrides,  you  survey,  235 

Great  in  the  war,  and  great  in  arts  of  sway. 

My  brother  once,  before  my  days  of  shame ; 

And  oh,  that  still  he  bore  a  brother’s  name !” 


96 


HOMER. 


With  wonder  Priam  view’d  the  godlike  man, 
Extoll’d  the  happy  prince,  and  thus  began:  240 

“  Oh,  bless’d  Atrides  !  born  1o  prosperous  fate, 
Successful  monarch  of  a  mighty  state  ! 

How  vast  thy  empire!  of  yon  matchless  train 
What  numbers  lost,  what  numbers  yet  remain  ! 

In  Phrygia  once  were  gallant  armies  known,  245 
In  ancient  time,  when  Otreus  fill’d  the  throne, 

When  godlike  Mygdon  led  their  troops  of  horse, 

And  I,  to  join  them,  raised  the  Trojan  force  : 

Against  the  manlike  Amazons  we  stood, 

And  Sangar’s  stream  ran  purple  with  their  blood. 

But  far  inferior  those,  in  martial  grace  251 

And  strength  of  numbers,  to  this  Grecian  race.” 

This  said,  once  more  he  view’d  the  warrior  train: 
“  What's  he,  whose  arms  lie  scatter’d  on  the  plain  I 
Broad  is  his  breast,  his  shoulders  larger  spread,  255 
Though  great  Atrides  overtops  his  head. 

Nor  yet  appear  his  care  and  conduct  small : 

From  rank  to  rank  he  moves,  and  orders  all. 

The  stately  ram  thus  measures  o’er  the  ground, 

And,  master  of  the  flock,  surveys  them  round,”  260 
Then  Helen  thus :  “  Whom  your  discerning  eyes 
Have  singled  out,  is  Ithacus  the  wise  : 

A  barren  island  boasts  his  glorious  birth : 

His  fame  for  wisdom  fills  the  spacious  earth.” 

Antenor  took  the  word,  and  thus  began  :  265 

“Myself,  oh  king!  have  seen  that  wondrous  man: 
When,  trusting  Jove  and  hospitable  laws, 

To  Troy  he  came,  to  plead  the  Grecian  cause 
(Great  Menelaus  urged  the  same  request,) 

My  house  was  honour’d  with  each  royal  guest :  270 
I  knew  their  persons,  and  admired  their  parts, 

Both  brave  in  arms,  and  both  approved  in  arts. 
Erect,  the  Spartan  most  engaged  our  view  : 

Ulysses  seated,  greater  reverence  drew. 

When  Atreus’  son  harangued  the  listening  train,  275 
Just  was  his  sense,  and  his  expression  plain, 


ILIAD. — BOOK  III. 


97 


His  words  succinct,  yet  full,  without  a  fault; 

He  spoke  no  more  than  just  the  thing  he  ought. 

But  when  Ulysses  rose,  in  thought  profound, 

His  modest  eyes  he  fix’d  upon  the  ground,  280 
As  one  unskill’d  or  dumb  he  seem’d  to  stand, 

Nor  raised  his  head,  nor  stretch’d  his  sceptred  hand  : 
But  when  he  speaks,  w’hat  elocution  flows ! 

Soft  as  the  fleeces  of  descending  snows 

The  copious  accents  fall,  with  easy  art;  .  285 

Melting  they  fall,  and  sink  into  the  heart ! 

Wondering  we  hear,  and  fix’d  in  deep  surprise, 

Our  ears  refute  the  censure  of  our  eyes.” 

The  king  then  ask’d,  (as  yet  the  camp  he  view’d,) 
“  What  chief  is  that,  with  giant  strength  endued,  290 
Whose  brawny  shoulders,  and  whose  swelling  chest, 
And  lofty  stature,  far  exceed  the  rest  1” 

“  Ajax  the  great,”  the  beauteous  queen  replied,  ' 
“Himself  a  host ;  the  Grecian  strength  and  pride. 
See  !  bold  Idomeneus  superior  towers  295 

Amid  yon  circle  of  his  Cretan  powers, 

Great  as  a  god  !  I  saw  him  once  before, 

With  Menelaus,  on  the  Spartan  shore. 

The  rest  I  know,  and  could  in  order  name ; 

All  valiant  chiefs,  and  men  of  mighty  fame.  300 
Yet  two  are  wanting  of  the  numerous  train, 

Whom  long  my  eyes  have  sought,  but  sought  in 
vain : 

Castor  and  Pollux,  first  in  martial  force, 

One  bold  on  foot,  and  one  renown’d  for  horse. 

My  brothers  these  ;  the  same  our  native  shore,  305 
One  house  contain’d  us,  as  one  mother  bore. 

Perhaps  the  chiefs,  from  warlike -toils  at  ease, 

For  distant  Troy  refused  to  sail  the  seas  : 

Perhaps  their  swords  some  nobler  quarrel  draws, 
Ashamed  to  combat  in  their  sister’s  cause.”  310 
So  spoke  the  fair,  nor  knew  her  brothers’  doom, 
Wrapp’d  in  the  cold  embraces  of  the  tomb ; 

Adorn’d  with  honours  in  their  native  shore, 

Silent  they  slept,  and  heard  of  wars  no  more. 
hom. — i.— i 


98 


HOMER. 


Meantime  the  heralds  through  the  crowded  town 
Bring  the  rich  wine  and  destin’d  victims  down.  316 
Idaeus’  arms  the  golden  goblets  press’d, 

Who  thus  the  venerable  king  address’d  : 

“  Arise,  oh  father  of  the  Trojan  state  ! 

The  nations  call,  thy  joyful  people  wait  320 

To  seal  the  truce,  and  end  the  dire  debate. 

Paris  thy  son  and  Sparta’s  king  advance, 

In  measured  lists  to  toss  the  weighty  lance ; 

And  who  his  rival  shall  in  arms  subdue, 

His  be  the  dame,  and  his  the  treasure  too.  325 
Thus  with  a  lasting  league  our  toils  may  cease, 

And  Troy  possess  her  fertile  fields  in  peace  ; 

So  shall  the  Greeks  review  their  native  shore, 

Much  famed  for  generous  steeds,  for  beauty  more.” 

With  grief  he  heard,  and  bade  the  chiefs  prepare 
To  join  his  milk-white  coursers  to  the  car:  331 

He  mounts  the  seat,  Antenor  at  his  side; 

The  gentle  steeds  through  Scsea’s  gates  they  guide  : 
Next  from  the  car  descending  on  the  plain, 

Amid  the  Grecian  host  and  Trojan  train  335 

Slow  they  proceed  :  the  sage  Ulysses  then 
Arose,  and  with  him  rose  the  king  of  men. 

On  either  side  a  sacred  herald  stands, 

The  wine  they  mix,  and  on  each  monarch’s  hands 
Pour  the  full  urn  ;  then  draws  the  Grecian  lord  340 
His  cutlass,  sheathed  beside  his  ponderous  sword; 
From  the  sign’d  victims  crops  the  curling  hair, 

The  heralds  part  it,  and  the  princes  share  ; 

Then  loudly  thus  before  the  attentive  bands 
He  calls  the  gods,  and  spreads  his  lifted  hands  :  345 
“  Oh  first  and  greatest  power !  whom  all  obey, 
Who  high  on  Ida’s  holy  mountain  sway, 

Eternal  Jove !  and  you,  bright  orb,  that  roll 
From  east  to  west,  and  view  from  pole  to  pole  ! 
Thou,  mother  Earth !  and  all  ye  living  floods  !  350 
Infernal  furies  !  and  Tartarean  gods, 

Who  rule  the  dead,  and  horrid  woes  prepare 
For  perjured  kings,  and  all  who  falsely  swear ! 


ILIAD. BOOK  III.  99 

Hear,  and  be  witness.  If  b*y  Paris  slain, 

Great  Menelaus  press  the  fatal  plain,  355 

The  dame  and  treasures  let  the  Trojan  keep, 

And  Greece  returning  plough  the  watery  deep. 

If  by  my  brother’s  lance  the  Trojan  bleed, 

Be  his  the  wealth  and  beauteous  dame  decreed  : 

The  appointed  fine  let  Ilion  justly  pay,  360 

And  age  to  age  record  the  signa}  day. 

This  if  the  Phrygians  shall  refus'e  to  yield, 

Arms  must  revenge,  and  Mars  decide  the  field.” 

With  that  the  chief  the  tender  victims  slew, 

And  in  the  dust  their  bleeding  bodies  threw  :  365 

The  vital  spirit  issued  at  the  wound, 

And  left  the  members  quivering  on  the  ground. 

From  the  same  urn  they  drink  the  mingled  wine, 
And  add  libations  to  the  powers  divine. 

While  thus  their  prayers  united  mount  the  sky  :  370 
u  Hear,  mighty  Jove !  and  hear,  ye  gods  on  high  ! 
And  may  their  blood,  who  first  the  league  confound, 
Shed  like  this  wine,  distain  the  thirsty  ground  ! 

May  all  their  consorts  serve  promiscuous  lust ! 

And  all  their  race  be  scatter’d  as  the  dust !”  375 

Thus  either  host  their  imprecations  join’d, 

Which  Jove  refused,  and  mingled  with  the  wind. 

The  rites  now  finished,  reverend  Priam  rose, 

And  thus  express’d  a  heart  o’ercharg’d  with  woes  : 

“  Ye  Greeks  and  Trojans,  let  the  chiefs  engage,  380 
But  spare  the  weakness  of  my  feeble  age  : 

In  yonder  walls  that  object  let  me  shun, 

Nor  view  the  danger  of  so  dear  a  son. 

Whose  arms  shall  conquer,  and  what  prince  shall 
fall, 

Heaven  only  knows,  for  Heaven  disposes  all.”  385 
This  said,  the  hoary  king  no  longer  stavd, 

But  on  his  car  the  slaughter’d  victims  laid  ; 

Then  seized  the  reins  his  gentle  steeds  to  guide, 

And  drove  to  Troy,  Antenor  at  his  side. 

Bold  Hector  and  Ulysses  now  dispose  390 

The  lists  of  combat,  and  the  ground  enclose ; 


100 


HOMER. 


Next  to  decide  by  sacred  lots  prepare, 

Who  first  shall  launch  his  pointed  spear  in  air. 

The  people  pray  with  elevated  hands, 

And  words  like  these  are  heard  through  all  the  bands : 
“Immortal  Jove,  high  heaven’s  superior  lord,  396 
On  lofty  Ida’s  holy  m«unt  adored  ! 

Whoe’er  involved  us  in  this  dire  debate, 

Oh,  give  that  author  of  the  war  to  fate 

And  shades  eternal !  Let  division  cease,  400 

And  joyful  nations  join  in  leagues  of  peace.” 

With  eyes  averted  Hector  hastes  to  turn 
The  lots  of  fight,  and  shakes  the  brazen  urn. 

Then,  Paris,  thine  leap’d  forth  ;  by  fatal  chance 
Ordain’d  the  first  to  whirl  the  weighty  lance.  405 
Both  armies  sat  the  combat  to  survey, 

Beside  each  chief  his  azure  armour  lay, 

And  round  the  lists  the  generous  coursers  neigh. 

The  beauteous  warrior  now  arrays  for  fight, 

In  gilded  arms  magnificently  bright :  410 

The  purple  cuishes  clasp  his  thighs  around, 

With  flowers  adorn’d,  with  silver  buckles  bound : 
Lycaon’s  corslet  his  fair  body  dress’d, 

Braced  in,  and  fitted  to  his  softer  breast : 

A  radiant  baldrick,  o’er  his  shoulders  tied,  415 
Sustain’d  the  sword  that  glitter’d  at  his  side : 

His  youthful  face  a  polish’d  helm  o’erspread ; 

The  waving  horsehair  nodded  on  his  head  : 

His  figured  shield,  a  shining  orb,  he  takes, 

And  in  his  hand  a  pointed  javelin  shakes.  420 

With  equal  speed,  and  fired  by  equal  charms, 

The  Spartan  hero  sheathes  his  limbs  in  arms. 

Now  round  the  lists  the  admiring  army  stand, 
With  javelins  fix’d,  the  Greek  and  Trojan  band. 
Amid  the  dreadful  vale  the  chiefs  advance,  425 
All  pale  with  rage,  and  shake  the  threatening  lance. 
The  Trojan  first  his  shining  javelin  threw; 

Full  on  Atrides’  ringing  shield  it  flew  ; 

Nor  pierced  the  brazen  orb,  but  with  a  bound 
Leap’d  from  the  buckler  blunted  on  the  ground.  430 


ILIAD. — BOOK  III. 


101 


Atrides  then  his  massy  lance  prepares, 

In  act  to  throw,  but  first  prefers  his  prayers  : 

“  Give  me,  great  Jove  !  to  punish  lawless  lust, 
And  lay  the  Trojan  gasping  in  the  dust: 

Destroy  the  aggressor,  aid  my  righteous  cause,  435 
Avenge  the  breach  of  hospitable  laws, 

Let  this  example  future  times  reclaim, 

And  jzuard  from  wrong  fair  friendship’s  holy  name.” 
He  said,  and  poised  in  air  the  javelin  sent : 

Through  Paris’  shield  the  forceful  weapon  went, 
His  corslet  pierces,  and  his  garment  rends,  441 
And,  glancing  downward,  near  his  flank  descends. 
The  wary  Trojan,  bending  from  the  blow, 

Eludes  the  death,  and  disappoints  his  foe : 

But  fierce  Atrides  waved  his  sword,  and  struck  445 
Full  on  his  casque ;  the  crested  helmet  shook ; 

The  brittle  steel,  unfaithful  to  his  hand, 

Broke  short:  the  fragments  glitter’d  on  the  sand. 
The  raging  warrior  to  the  spacious  skies 
Raised  his  upbraiding  voice  and  angry  eyes:  450 

“  Then  is  it  vain  in  Jove  himself  to  trust? 

And  is  it  thus  the  gods  assist  the  just  ? 

When  crimes  provoke  us,  Heaven  success  denies: 
The  dart  falls  harmless,  and  the  falchion  flies.” 
Furious  he  said,  and  towards  the  Grecian  crew  455 
(Seized  by  the  crest)  the  unhappy  warrior  drew: 
Struggling  he  follow’d,  while  the  embroider’d  thong, 
That  tied  his  helmet,  dragg’d  the  chief  along. 

Then  had  his  ruin  crown’d  Atrides’  joy, 

But  Venus  trembled  for  the  prince  of  Troy:  460 

Unseen  she  came,  and  burst  the  golden  band, 

And  left  an  empty  helmet  in  his  hand. 

The  casque,  enraged,  amid  the  Greeks  he  threw; 
The  Greeks  with  smiles  the  polish’d  trophy  view. 
Then,  as  once  more  he  lifts  the  deadly  dart,  465 
In  thirst  of  vengeance,  at  his  rival’s  heart, 

The  queen  of  love  her  favour’d  champion  shrouds 
(For  gods  can  all  things)  in  a  veil  of  clouds. 

i  2 


102 


HOMER. 


Raised  from  the  field  the  panting  youth  she  led, 

And  gently  laid  him  on  the  bridal  bed,  470 

With  pleasing  sweets  his  fainting  sense  renews, 

And  all  the  dome  perfumes  with  heavenly  dews. 

Meantime  the  brightest  of  the  female  kind, 

The  matchless  Helen,  o’er  the  walls  reclined; 

To  her,  beset  with  Trojan  beauties,  came  475 

In  borrow’d  form  the  laughter-loving  dame. 

(She  seem’d  an  ancient  maid,  well  skill’d  to  cull 
The  snowy  fleece,  and  wind  the  twisted  wool.) 

The  goddess  softly  shook  her  silken  vest, 

That  shed  perfumes,  and  whispering  thus  address’d: 
“  Haste,  happy  nymph !  for  thee  thy  Paris 
calls,  481 

Safe  from  the  fight  in  yonder  lofty  walls, 

Fair  as  a  god !  with  odours  round  him  spread 
He  lies,  and  waits  thee  on  the  well-known  bed : 

Not  like  a  warrior  parted  from  the  foe,  485 

But  some  gay  dancer  in  the  public  show.” 

She  spoke,  and  Helen’s  secret  soul  was  moved: 
She  scorn’d  the  champion,  but  the  man  she  loved. 
Fair  Venus’  neck,  her  eyes  that  sparkled  fire, 

And  breast,  reveal’d  the  queen  of  soft  desire.  490 
Struck  with  her  presence,  straight  the  lively  red 
Forsook  her  cheek,  and,  trembling,  thus  she  said: 

“  Then  is  it  still  thy  pleasure  to  deceive  ? 

And  woman’s  frailty  always  to  believe  ? 

Say,  to  new  nations  must  I  cross  the  main,  495 
Or  carry  wars  to  some  soft  Asian  plain  ? 

For  whom  must  Helen  break  her  second  vow? 

What  other  Paris  is  thy  darling  now  ? 

Left  to  Atrides  (victor  in  the  strife) 

An  odious  conquest,  and  a  captive  wife,  500 

Hence  let  me  sail ;  and  if  thy  Paris  bear 
My  absence  ill,  let  Venus  ease  his  care. 

A  handmaid  goddess  at  his  side  to  wait, 

Renounce  the  glories  of  thy  heavenly  state, 


476  Venus 


ILIAD. - BOOK  III. 


103 


Be  fix’d  for  ever  to  the  Trojan  shore,  505 

His  spouse,  or  slave ;  and  mount  the  skies  no  more. 
For  me,  to  lawless  love  no  longer  led, 

I  scorn  the  coward,  and  detest  his  bed ; 

Else  should  I  merit  everlasting  shame, 

And  keen  reproach  from  every  Phrygian  dame  :  510 
Ill  suits  it  now  the  joys  of  love  to  know, 

Too  deep  my  anguish,  and  too  wild  my  wo.” 

Then,  thus  incensed,  the  Paphian  queen  replies : 

“  Obey  the  power  from  whom  thy  glories  rise : 
Should  Venus  leave  thee,  every  charm  must  fly,  515 
Fade  from  thy  cheek,  and  languish  in  thy  eye. 
Cease  to  provoke  me,  lest  I  make  thee  more 
The  world’s  aversion,  than  their  love  before  ; 

Now  the  bright  prize  for  which  mankind  engage, 
Then  the  sad  victim  of  the  public  rage.”  520 

At  this,  the  fairest  of  her  sex  obey’d, 

And  veil’d  her  blushes  in  a  silken  shade ; 

Unseen,  and  silent,  from  the  train  she  moves, 

Led  by  the  goddess  of  the  smiles  and  loves. 

Arrived,  and  enter’d  at  the  palace  gate,  525 

The  maids  officious  round  their  mistress  wait: 
Then  all,  dispersing,  various  tasks  attend ; 

The  queen  and  goddess  to  the  prince  ascend. 

Full  in  her  Paris’  sight  the  queen  of  love 
Had  placed  the  beauteous  progeny  of  Jove  ;  530 

Where,  as  he  view’d  her  charms,  she  turn’d  away 
Her  glowing  eyes,  and  thus  began  to  say : 

“  Is  this  the  chief,  who,  lost  to  sense  of  shame, 
Late  fled  the  field,  and  yet  survives  his  fame  ? 

Oh,  hadst  thou  died  beneath  the  righteous  sword 
Of  that  brave  man  whom  once  I  call’d  my  lord !  536 
The  boaster  Paris  oft  desired  the  day 
With  Sparta’s  king  to  meet  in  single  fray  ; 

Go  now,  once  more  thy  rival’s  rage  excite, 

Provoke  Atrides,  and  renew  the  fight :  540 

Yet  Helen  bids  thee  stay,  lest  thou  unskill’d 
Shouldst  fall  an  easy  conquest  on  the  field.” 


104 


HOMER. 


The  prince  replies  :  “Ah  !  cease,  divinely  fair. 
Nor  add  reproaches  to  the  wounds  I  bear: 

This  day  the  foe  prevail’d  by  Pallas’  power  ;  545 

We  yet  may  vanquish  in  a  happier  hour: 

There  want  not  gods  to  favour  us  above : 

But  let  the  business  of  our  life  be  love  : 

These  softer  moments  let  delights  employ, 

And  kind  embraces  snatch  the  hasty  joy.  550 

Not  thus  I  loved  thee  when  from  Sparta’s  shore 
My  forced,  my  willing,  heavenly  prize  I  bore, 

When  first  entranced  in  Cranae’s  isle  1  lay, 

Mix’d  with  thy  soul,  and  all  dissolved  away!” 

While  these  to  love’s  delicious  rapture  yield,  555 
The  stern  Atrides  rages  round  the  field: 

So  some  fell  lion,  whom  the  woods  obey, 

Roars  through  the  desert,  and  demands  his  prey. 
Paris  he  seeks,  impatient  to  destroy, 

But  seeks  in  vain  along  the  troops  of  Troy;  560 
Even  those  had  yielded  to  a  foe  so  brave 
The  recreant  warrior,  hateful  as  the  grave. 

Then  speaking  thus,  the  king  of  kings  arose  : 

“  Ye  Trojans,  Dardans,  all  our  generous  foes ! 
Hear  and  attest  !  from  Heaven  with  conquest 
crown’d,  565 

Our  brother’s  arms  the  just  success  have  found : 

Be  therefore  now  the  Spartan- wealth  restored, 

Let  Argive  Helen  own  her  lawful  lord  ; 

The  appointed  fine  let  Ilion  justly  pay, 

And  age  to  age  record  this  signal  day.”  570 

He  ceased ;  his  army’s  loud  applauses  rise, 

And  the  long  shout  runs  echoing  through  the  skies. 


I 


BOOK  IY. 

ARGUMENT. 

The  Breach  of  the  Truce ,  and  the  first  Battle. 

The  gods  deliberate  in  council  concerning  the  Trojan  war : 
they  agree  on  the  continuation  of  it,  and  Jupiter  sends  down 
Minerva  to  break  the  truce — She  persuades  Pandarus  to  aim 
an  arrow  at  Menelaus,  who  is  wounded,  but  cured  by  Macha- 
on — In  the  mean  time  some  of  the  Trojan  troops  attack  the 
Greeks — Agamemnon  is  distinguished  in  all  the  parts  of  a 
good  general :  he  reviews  the  troops,  and  exhorts  the  lead¬ 
ers,  some  by  praises,  and  others  by  reproofs — Nestor  is  par¬ 
ticularly  celebrated  for  his  military  discipline.  The  battle 
joins,  and  great  numbers  are  slain  on  both  sides. — [The  same 
day  continues  through  this,  as  through  the  last  book  (as  it 
does  also  through  the  two  following,  and  almost  to  the  end 
of  the  seventh  book.)  The  scene  is  wholly  in  the  field  before 
Troy.] 


And  now  Olympus’  shining  gates  unfold  ; 

The  gods,  with  Jove,  assume  their  thrones  of  gold : 
Immortal  Hebe,  fresh  with  bloom  divine, 

The  golden  goblet  crowns  with  purple  wine: 

While  the  full  bowls  flow  round,  the  powers  employ 
Their  careful  eyes  on  long-contended  Troy.  6 

When  Jove,  disposed  to  tempt  Saturnia’s  spleen, 
Thus  waked  the  fury  of  his  partial  queen. 

Two  powers  divine  the  son  of  Atreus  aid, 

Imperial  Juno  and  the  martial  maid ;  10 

But  high  in  heaven  they  sit,  and  gaze  from  far, 

The  tame  spectators  of  his  deeds  of  war. 

Not  thus  fair  Venus  helps  her  favour’d  knight, 

The  queen  of  pleasures  shares  the  toils  of  fight, 
Each  danger  wards,  and  constant  in  her  care  15 
Saves  in  the  moment  of  the  last  despair. 


% 


106 


HOMER. 


Her  act  has  rescued  Paris’  forfeit  life, 

Though  great  Atrides  gain’d  the  glorious  strife. 

Then  say,  ye  powers!  what  signal  issue  waits 
To  crown  this  deed,  and  finish  all  the  fates  ?  20  ' 

Shall  Heaven  by  peace  the  bleeding  kingdoms  spare. 
Or  rouse  the  furies,  and  awake  the  war? 

Yet,  would  the  gods  for  human  good  provide, 

Atrides  soon  might  gain  his  beauteous  bride, 

Still  Priam’s  walls  in  peaceful  honours  grow,  25 
And  through  his  gates  the  crowding  nations  flow. 
Thus  while  he  spoke,  the  queen  of  heaven  en¬ 
raged, 

And  queen  of  war,  in  close  consult  engaged: 

Apart  they  sit,  their  deep  designs  employ, 

And  meditate  the  future  woes  of  Troy.  30 

Though  secret  anger  swell’d  Minerva’s  breast, 

The  prudent  goddess  yet  her  wrath  suppress’d : 

But  Juno,  impotent  of  passion,  broke 
Her  sullen  silence,  and  with  fury  spoke. 

“  Shall  then,  oh  tyrant  of  the  ethereal  reign  !  35 

My  schemes,  my  labours,  and  my  hopes  be  vain? 
Have  I,  for  this,  shook  I  lion  with  alarms, 

Assembled  nations,  set  two  worlds  in  arms? 

To  sprea  1  the  war,  I  flew  from  shore  to  shore ; 

The  immortal  coursers  scarce  the  labour  bore.  40 
At  length  ripe  vengeance  o’er  their  heads  impends, 
But  Jove  himself  the  faithless  race  defends  : 

Loath  as  thou  art  to  punish  lawless  lust, 

Not  all  the  gods  are  partial  and  unjust.” 

The  sire,  whose  thunder  shakes  the  cloudy  skies, 
Sighs  from  his  inmost  soul,  and  thus  replies :  46 

“  Oh  lasting  rancour !  oh  insatiate  hate 
To  Phrygia’s  monarch,  and  the  Phrygian  state! 

What  high  offence  has  fired  the  wife  of  Jove  ? 

Can  wretched  mortals  harm  the  powers  above,  50 
That  Troy  and  Troy’s  whole  race  thou  wouldst  con¬ 
found, 

And  yon  fair  structures  level  with  the  ground  ? 


ILIAD.  —  BOOK  IV. 


107 


Haste,  leave  the  skies,  fulfil  thy  stern  desire, 

Burst  all  her  gates,  and  wrap  her  walls  in  fire ! 

Let  Priam  bleed  !  if  yet  thou  thirst  for  more,  55 
Bleed  all  his  sons,  and  I  lion  float  with  gore, 

To  boundless  vengeance  the  wide  realm  be  given, 
Till  vast  destruction  glut  the  queen  of  heaven! 

So  let  it  be,  and  Jove  his  peace  enjoy, 

When  heaven  no  longer  hears  the  name  of  Troy.  60 
But  should  this  arm  prepare  to  wreak  our  hate 
On  thy  loved  realms,  whose  guilt  demands  their  fate, 
Presume  not  thou  the  lifted  bolt  to  stay; 

Remember  Troy,  and  give  the  vengeance  way. 

For  know,  of  all  the  numerous  towns  that  rise  65 
Beneath  the  rolling  sun  and  starry  skies. 

Which  gods  have  raised,  or  earth-born  men  enjoy, 
None  stands  so  dear  to  Jove  as  sacred  Troy, 

No  mortals  merit  more  distinguish’d  grace 

Than  godlike  Priam,  or  than  Priam’s  race  ;  70 

Still  to  our  name  their  hecatombs  expire, 

And  altars  blaze  with  unextinguish’d  fire.” 

At  this  the  goddess  roll’d  her  radiant  eyes, 

Then  on  the  Thunderer  fix’d  them,  and  replies: 
“Three  towns  are  Juno’s  on  the  Grecian  plains,  75 
More  dear  than  all  the  extended  earth  contains, 
Mycenae,  Argos,  and  the  Spartan  wall ;  • 

These  thou  may’st  raze,  nor  1  forbid  their  fall : 

’Tis  not  in  me  the  vengeance  to  remove  ; 

The  crime’s  sufficient  that  they  share  my  love.  80 
Of  power  superior  why  should  I  complain  ? 

Resent  I  may,  but  must  resent  in  vain. 

Yet  some  distinction  Juno  might  require, 

Sprung  with  thyself  from  one  celestial  sire, 

A  goddess  born  to  share  the  realms  above,  85 

And  styled  the  consort  of  the  thundering  Jove  : 

Nor  thou  a  wife  and  sister’s  right  deny ; 

Let  both  consent,  and  both  by  turns  comply ; 

So  shall  the  gods  our  joint  decrees  obey, 

And  Heaven  shall  act  as  we  direct  the  way. 


90 


108 


HOMER. 


See  ready  Pallas  waits  thy  high  commands, 

To  raise  in  arms  the  Greek  and  Phrygian  bands ; 
Their  sudden  friendship  by  her  arts  may  cease, 

And  the  proud  Trojans  first  infringe  the  peace.” 

The  sire  of  men  and  monarch  of  the  sky  95 

The  advice  approved,  and  bade  Minerva  fly, 

Dissolve  the  league,  and  all  her  arts  employ 
To  make  the  breach  the  faithless  act  of  Troy. 

Fired  with  the  charge,  she  headlong  urged  her 
flight, 

And  shot  like  lightning  from  Olympus’  height.  100 
As  the  red  comet,  from  Saturnius  sent 
To  fright  the  nations  with  a  dire  portent, 

(A  fatal  sign  to  armies  on  the  plain, 

Or  trembling  sailors  on  the  wintry  main,) 

With  sweeping  glories  glides  along  in  air,  105 
And  shakes  the  sparkles  from  its  blazing  hair : 
Between  both  armies  thus,  in  open  sight, 

Shot  the  bright  goddess  in  a  trail  of  light. 

With  eyes  erect  the  gazing  hosts  admire 
The  power  descending,  and  the  heavens  on  fire !  110 
“  The  gods,”  they  cried,  “  the  gods  this  signal  sent, 
And  fate  now  labours  with  some  vast  event : 

Jove  seals  the  league,  or  bloodier  scenes  prepares  ; 
Jove,*  the  great  arbiter  of  peace  and  wars!” 

They  said  ;  while  Pallas  through  the  Trojan  throng 
(In  shape  a  mortal)  pass’d  disguised  along.  116 
Like  bold  Laodocus,  her  course  she  bent, 

Who  from  Antenor  traced  his  high  descent. 

Amid  the  ranks  Lycaon’s  son  she  found, 

The  warlike  Pandarus,  for  strength  renown’d  ;  120 
Whose  squadrons,  led  from  black  jEsepus’  flood, 
With  flaming  shields  in  martial  circle  stood. 

To  him  the  goddess :  “  Phrygian !  canst  thou  hear 
A  well-timed  counsel  with  a  willing  ear? 

What  praise  were  thine,  couldst  thou  direct  thy 
dart,  125 

Amid  his  triumph,  to  the  Spartan’s  heart ! 


ILIAt). - BOOK  IV.  109 

What  gifts  from  Troy,  from  Paris,  wouldst  thou 
gain, 

Thy  country’s  foe,  the  Grecian  glory  slain  ! 

Then  seize  the  occasion,  dare  the  mighty  deed, 

Aim  at  his  breast,  and  may  that  aim  succeed!  130 
But  first,  to  speed  the  shaft,  address  thy  vow 
To  Lycian  Phoebus  with  the  silver  bow, 

And  swear  the  firstlings  of  thy  flock  to  pay 
On  Delia’s  altars,  to  the  god  of  day.” 

He  heard,  and  madly,  at  the  motion  pleased,  135 
His  polish’d  bow  with  hasty  rashness  seized. 

’Twas  form’d  of  horn,  and  smooth’d  with  artful  toil; 
A  mountain  goat  resign’d  the  shining  spoil, 

Who  pierced  long  since  beneath  his  arrows  bled ; 
The  stately  quarry  on  the  cliffs  lay  dead,  140 

And  sixteen  palms  his  brow’s  large  honours  spread: 
The  workman  join’d,  and  shaped  the  bended  horns, 
And  beaten  gold  each  taper  point  adorns. 

This,  by  the  Greeks  unseen,  the  warrior  bends, 
Screen'd  by  the  shields  of  his  surrounding  friends. 
There  meditates  the  mark;  and  couching  low,  146 
Fits  the  sharp  arrow  to  the  well-strung  bow. 

One  from  a  hundred  feather’d  deaths  he  chose, 

Fated  to  wound,  and  cause  of  future  woes. 

Then  offers  vows  with  hecatombs  to  crown  150 
Apollo’s  altars  in  his  native  town. 

Now  with  full  force  the  yielding  horn  he  bends, 
Drawn  to  an  arch,  and  joins  the  doubling  ends  ; 
Close  to  his  breast  he  strains  the  nerve  below, 

Till  the  barb’d  point  approach  the  circling  bow;  155 
The  impatient  weapon  whizzes  on  the  wing: 

Sounds  the  tough  horn,  and  twangs  the  quivering 
string. 

But  thee,  Atrides !  in  that  dangerous  hour 
The  gods  forgot  not,  nor  thy  guardian  power. 

Pallas  assists,  and  (weaken’d  in  its  force)  160 
Diverts  the  weapon  from  its  destined  course : 

So  from  her  babe,  when  slumber  seals  his  eye, 

The  watchful  mother  wafts  the  envenom’d  fly. 

H.»M.  '1.  K. 


no 


HOMER. 


Just  where  his  belt  with  golden  buckles  join’d, 
Where  linen  folds  the  double  corslet  lined,  1C5 
She  turn’d  the  shaft,  which,  hissing  from  above, 
Pass’d  the  broad  belt,  and  through  the  corslet  drove: 
The  folds  it  pierced,  the  plaited  linen  tore, 

And  razed  the  skin,  and  drew  the  purple  gore. 

As  when  some  stately  trappings  are  decreed  170 
To  grace  a  monarch  on  his  bounding  steed, 

A  nymph,  in  Cariaor  xMaeonia  bred, 

Stains  the  pure  ivory  with  a  lively  red ; 

With  equal  lustre  various  colours  vie, 

The  shining  whiteness  and  the  Tyrian  die :  175 

So,  great  Atrides !  show’d  thy  sacred  blood, 

As  down  thy  snowy  thigh  distill’d  the  streaming  flood. 
With  horror  seized,  the  king  of  men  descried 
The  shaft  infix’d,  and  saw  the  gushing  tide  : 

Nor  less  the  Spartan  fear’d  before  he  found  180 
The  shining  barb  appear  above  the  wound. 

Then,  with  a  sigh,  that  heaved  his  manly  breast, 
The  royal  brother  thus  his  grief  express’d, 

And  grasp’d  his  hand ;  while  all  the  Greeks  around 
With  answering  sighs  return’d  the  plaintive  sound : 

“  Oh,  dear  as  life  !  did  I  for  this  agree  186 

The  solemn  truce,  a  fatal  truce  to  thee  ! 

Wert  thou  exposed  to  all  the  hostile  train, 

To  fight  for  Greece,  and  conquer  to  be  slain  1 
The  race  of  Trojans  in  thy  ruin  join,  190 

And  faith  is  scorn’d  by  all  the  perjured  line. 

Not  thus  our  vows,  confirm’d  with  wine  and  gore, 
Those  hands  we  plighted,  and  those  oaths  we  swore, 
Shall  all  be  vain :  when  Heaven’s  revenge  is  slow, 
Jove  but  prepares  to  strike  the  fiercer  blow.  195 
The  day  shall  come,  that,  great  avenging  day, 

Which  Troy’s  proud  glories  in  the  dust  shall  lay, 
When  Priam’s  powers  and  Priam’s  self  shall  fall, 
And  one  prodigious  ruin  swallow  all. 

I  see  the  god,  already,  from  the  pole  200 

Bare  his  red  arm,  and  bid  the  thunder  roll ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IV. 


Ill 


I  see  the  Eternal  all  his  fury  shed, 

And  shake  his  aegis  o’er  their  guilty  head. 

Such  mighty  woes  on  perjured  princes  wait; 

But  thou,  alas  !  deservest  a  happier  fate.  205 

Still  must  I  mourn  the  period  of  thy  days, 

And  only  mourn,  without  my  share  of  praise  1 
Deprived  of  thee,  the  heartless  Greeks  no  more 
Shall  dream  of  conquests  on  the  hostile  shore ; 

Troy  seized  of  Helen,  and  our  glory  lost,  210 

Thy  bones  shall  moulder  on  a  foreign  coast : 

While  some  proud  Trojan  thus  insulting  cries, 

(And  spurns  the  dust  where  Menelaus  lies,) 

‘Such  are  the  trophies  Greece  from  Ilion  brings, 
And  such  the  conquests  of  her  king  of  kings !  215 

Lo,  his  proud  vessels  scatter’d  o’er  the  main, 

And  unrevenged  his  mighty  brother  slain  !’ 

Oh !  ere  that  dire  disgrace  shall  blast  my  fame, 
O’erwhelm  me,  earth !  and  hide  a  monarch’s  shame.” 

He  said  :  a  leader’s  and  a  brother’s  fears  220 
Possess  his  soul,  which  thus  the  Spartan  cheers: 

“  Let  not  thy  words  the  warmth  of  Greece  abate; 
The  feeble  dart  is  guiltless  of  my  fate : 

Stiff  with  the  rich  embroider’d  work  around, 

My  varied  belt  repell’d  the  flying  wound.”  226 
To  whom  the  king.  “  My  brother  and  my  friend, 
Thus,  always  thus,  may  Heaven  thy  life  defend  ! 
Now  seek  some  skilful  hand,  whose  powerful  art 
May  stanch  the  effusion,  and  extract  the  dart. 
Herald,  be  swift,  and  bid  Machaon  bring  230 

His  speedy  succour  to  the  Spartan  king ; 

Pierced  with  a  winged  shaft,  (the  deed  of  Troy,) 
The  Grecian’s  sorrow,  and  the  Dardan’s  joy.” 

With  hasty  zeal  the  swift  Talthybius  flies; 
Through  the  thick  files  he  darts  his  searching  eyes, 
And  finds  Machaon,  where  sublime  he  stands  236 
In  arms  encircled  with  his  native  bands. 

Then  thus  :  “  Machaon,  to  the  king  repair, 

His  wounded  brother  claims  thy  timely  care ; 


112 


HOMER. 


Pierced  by  some  Lycian  or  Dardanian  bow,  240 
A  grief  to  us,  a  triumph  to  the  foe.” 

The  heavy  tidings  grieved  the  godlike  man; 

Swift  to  his  succour  through  the  ranks  he  ran : 

The  dauntless  king  yet  standing  firm  he  found, 

And  all  the  chiefs  in  deep  concern  around.  245 
Where  to  the  steely  point  the  reed  was  join’d, 

The  shaft  he  drew,  but  left  the  head  behind. 

Straight  the  broad  belt,  with  gay  embroidery  graced, 
He  loosed  :  the  corslet  from  his  breast  unbraced ; 
Then  suck’d  the  blood,  and  sovereign  balm  infused, 
Which  Chiron  gave,  and  ./Esculapius  used.  251 
While  round  the  prince  the  Greeks  employ  their 
care, 

The  Trojans  rush  tumultuous  to  the  war ; 

Once  more  they  glitter  in  refulgent  arms, 

Once  more  the  fields  are  fill’d  with  dire  alarms.  255 
Nor  had  you  seen  the  king  of  men  appear 
Confused,  inactive,  or  surprised  with  fear: 

But  fond  of  glory,  with  severe  delight, 

His  beating  bosom  claim’d  the  rising  fight. 

No  longer  with  his  warlike  steeds  he  stay’d,  260 
Or  press’d  the  car  with  polish’d  brass  inlaid  ; 

But  left  Eurymedon  the  reins  to  guide  : 

The  fiery  coursers  snorted  at  his  side. 

On  foot  through  all  the  martial  ranks  he  moves, 

And  these  encourages,  and  those  reproves.  265 
“  Brave  men  1”  he  cries,  to  such  who  boldly  dare 
Urge  their  swift  steeds  to  face  the  coming  war, 

“  Your  ancient  valour  on  the  foes  approve ; 

Jove  is  with  Greece,  and  let  us  trust  in  Jove. 

’Tis  not  for  us,  but  guilty  Troy,  to  dread,  270 

Whose  crimes  sit  heavy  on  her  perjured  head  ; 

Her  sons  and  matrons  Greece  shall  lead  in  chains, 
And  her  dead  warriors  strew  the  mournful  plains.” 

Thus  with  new  ardour  he  the  brave  inspires; 

Or  thus  the  fearful  with  reproaches  fires:  27$ 

“  Shame  to  your  country,  scandal  of  your  kind ! 
Born  to  the  fate  ye  well  deserve  to  find  ! 


ILIAD. — BOOK  IV.  113 

Why  stand  ye  gazing  round  the  dreadful  plain, 
Prepared  for  flight,  but  doom’d  to  fly  in  vain  1 
Confused  and  panting  thus,  the  haunted  deer  280 
Falls  as  he  flies,  a  victim  to  his  fear. 

Still  must  ye  wait  the  foes,  and  still  retire, 

Till  yon  tall  vessels  blaze  with  Trojan  fire  ! 

Or  trust  ye  Jove  a  valiant  foe  shall  chase, 

To  save  a  trembling,  heartless,  dastard  race!”  285 
This  said,  he  stalk’d  with  ample  strides  along, 

To  Crete’s  brave  monarch  and  his  martial  throng: 
High  at  their  head  he  saw  the  chief  appear, 

And  bold  Meriones  excite  the  rear. 

At  this  the  king  his  generous  joy  express’d,  290 
And  clasp’d  the  warrior  to  his  armed  breast. 

u  Divine  Idomeneus !  what  thanks  we  owe 
To  worth  like  thine  !  what  praise  shall  we  bestow  1 
To  thee  the  foremost  honours  are  decreed, 

First  in  the  fight,  and  every  graceful  deed.  295 
For  this,  in  banquets,  when  the  generous  bowls 
Restore  our  blood,  and  raise  the  warriors’  souls, 
Though  all  the  rest  with  stated  rules  we  bound, 
Unmix’d,  unmeasured,  are  thy  goblets  crown’d. 

Be  still  thyself,  in  arms  a  mighty  name ;  300 

Maintain  thy  honours,  and  enlarge  thy  fame.” 

To  whom  the  Cretan  thus  his  speech  address’d  : 

“  Secure  of  me,  oh  king !  exhort  the  rest : 

Fix’d  to  thy  side,  in  every  toil  I  share, 

Thy  firm  associate  in  the  day  of  war.  305 

But  let  the  signal  be  this  moment  given ; 

To  mix  in  fight  is  all  I  ask  of  Heaven. 

The  field  shall  prove  how  perjuries  succeed, 

And  chains  or  death  avenge  their  impious  deed.” 
Charm’d  with  this  heat,  the  king  his  course  pur¬ 
sues,  310 

And  next  the  troops  of  either  Ajax  views : 

In  one  firm  orb  the  bands  were  ranged  around 
A  cloud  of  heroes  blacken’d  all  the  ground. 

Thus  from  the  lofty  promontory’s  brow 
A  swain  surveys  the  gathering  storm  below ;  315 

k2 


114 


HOMER. 


Slow  from  the  main  the  heavy  vapours  rise, 

Spread  in  dim  streams,  and  sail  along  the  skies, 

Till  black  as  night  the  swelling  tempest  shows, 

The  cloud  condensing  as  the  west  wind  blows  : 

He  dreads  the  impending  storm,  and  drives  his  flock 
To  the  close  covert  of  an  arching  rock.  321 

Such,  and  so  thick  the  embattled  squadrons  stood, 
With  spears  erect,  a  moving  iron  wood  ; 

A  shady  light  was  shot  from  glimmering  shields, 
And  their  brown  arms  obscured  the  dusky  fields. 

“  Oh  heroes  !  worthy  such  a  dauntless  train,  326 
Whose  godlike  virtue  we  but  urge  in  vain,” 
Exclaim’d  the  king,  “who  raise  your  eager  bands 
With  great  examples,  more  than  loud  commands. 
Ah,  would  the  gods  but  breathe  in  all  the  rest  330 
Such  souls  as  burn  in  your  exalted  breast ! 

Soon  should  our  arms  with  just  success  be  crown’d, 
And  Troy’s  proud  walls  lie  smoking  on  the  ground.” 

Then  to  the  next  the  general  bends  his  course, 
His  heart  exults,  and  glories  in  his  force  ;  335 

There  reverend  Nestor  ranks  his  Pylian  bands, 

And  with  inspiring  eloquence  commands; 

With  strictest  order  sets  his  train  in  arms, 

The  chiefs  advises,  and  the  soldiers  warns. 

Alastor,  Chromius,  Haemon,  round  him  wait,  340 
Bias  the  good,  and  Pelagon  the  great. 

The  horse  and  chariots  to  the  front  assign’d, 

The  foot  (the  strength  of  war)  he  ranged  behind ; 
The  middle  space  suspected  troops  supply, 

Enclosed  by  both,  nor  left  the  power  to  fly ;  345 

He  gives  command  to  curb  the  fiery  steed. 

Nor  cause  confusion,  nor  the  ranks  exceed  ; 

“  Before  the  rest  let  none  too  rashly  ride  ; 

No  strength  nor  skill,  but  just  in  time,  be  tried  : 

The  charge  once  made,  no  warrior  turn  the  rein. 
But  fight,  or  fall ;  a  firm,  imbodied  train.  351 

He  whom  the  fortune  of  the  field  shall  cast 
From  forth  his  chariot,  mount  the  next  in  haste ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IV. 


115 


Nor  seek  unpractised  to  direct  the  car, 

Content  with  javelins  to  provoke  the  war.  355 
Our  great  forefathers  held  this  prudent  course, 

Thus  ruled  their  ardour,  thus  preserved  their  force, 
By  laws  like  these  immortal  conquests  made, 

And  earth’s  proud  tyrants  low  in  ashes  laid.” 

So  spoke  the  master  of  the  martial  art,  360 

And  touch’d  with  transport  great  Atrides’  heart. 

“  Oh !  hadst  thou  strength  to  match  thy  brave  de 
sires, 

And  nerves  to  second  what  thy  soul  inspires ! 

But  wasting  years,  that  wither  human  race, 
Exhaust  thy  spirits,  and  thy  arms  unbrace.  365 
What  once  thou  wert,  oh  ever  mightst  thou  be ! 

And  age  the  lot  of  any  chief  but  thee.” 

Thus  to  the  experienced  prince  Atrides  cried; 

He  shook  his  hoary  locks,  and  thus  replied  : 

“  Well  might  I  wish,  could  mortal  wish  renew  370 
That  strength  which  once  in  boiling  youth  I  knew; 
Such  as  I  was,  when  Ereuthalion  slain 
Beneath  this  arm  fell  prostrate  on  the  plain. 

But  Heaven  its  gifts  not  all  at  once  bestows, 

These  years  with  wisdom  crowns,  with  action  those: 
The  field  of  combat  fits  the  young  and  bold,  376 
The  solemn  council  best  becomes  the  old: 

To  you  the  glorious  conflict  1  resign, 

Let  sage  advice,  the  palm  of  age,  be  mine.” 

He  said.  With  joy  the  monarch  march’d  before, 
And  found  Menestheus  on  the  dusty  shore,  381 
With  whom  the  firm  Athenian  phalanx  stands  ; 

And  next  Ulysses,  with  his  subject  bands. 

Remote  their  forces  lay,  nor  knew  so  far 
The  peace  infringed,  nor  heard  the  sounds  of  war; 
The  tumult  late  begun,  they  stood  intent,  38G 
To  watch  the  motion,  dubious  of  the  event. 

The  king,  who  saw  their  squadrons  yet  unmoved, 
With  hasty  ardour  thus  the  chiefs  reproved. 

“  Can  Peleus’  son  forget  a  warrior’s  part,  390 
And  fears  Ulysses,  skill’d  in  every  art! 


116 


HOMER. 


Why  stand  you  distant,  and  the  rest  expect 
To  mix  in  combat  which  yourselves  neglect? 

From  you  *twas  hoped  among  the  first  to  dare 
The  shock  of  armies,  and  commence  the  war.  395 
For  this  your  names  are  call’d,  before  the  rest, 

To  share  the  pleasures  of  the  genial  feast; 

And  can  you,  chiefs !  without  a  blush  survey 
Whole  troops  before  you  labouring  in  the  fray? 

Say,  is  it  thus  those  honours  you  requite;  400 
The  first  in  banquets,  but  the  last  in  fight?” 

Ulysses  heard  :  the  hero’s  warmth  o’erspread 
His  cheek  with  blushes  ;  and,  severe,  he  said  : 

“  Take  back  the  unjust  reproach  !  Behold  we  stand 
Sheathed  in  bright  arms,  and  but  expect  command. 
If  glorious  deeds  afford  thy  soul  delight,  406 

Behold  me  plunging  in  the  thickest  fight. 

Then  give  thy  warrior  chief  a  warrior’s  due, 

Who  dares  to  act  whate’er  thou  darest  to  view.” 

Struck  with  his  generous  wrath,  the  king  replies: 
“  Oh,  great  in  action,  and  in  council  wise !  411 

With  ours,  thy  care  and  ardour  are  the  same, 

Nor  need  I  to  commend,  nor  ought  to  blame. 

Sage  as  thou  art,  and  learn’d  in  human  kind, 

Forgive  the  transport  of  a  martial  mind.  415 

Haste  to  the  fight,  secure1  in  just  amends ; 

The  gods  that  make,  shall  keep  the  worthy  friends.” 

He  said,  and  pass’d  where  great  Tydides  lay, 

His  steeds  and  chariots  wedged  in  firm  array  ; 

(The  warlike  Sthenelus  attends  his  side  ;)  420 

To  whom  with  stern  reproach  the  monarch  cried: 

“  Oh,  son  of  Tydeus  !'*  he,  whose  strength  could 
tame 

The  bounding  steed,  in  arms  a  mighty  name ; 

“  Canst  thou,  remote,  the  mingling  hosts  descry, 
With  hands  unactive,  and  a  careless  eye  ?  425 

Not  thus  thy  sire  the  fierce  encounter  fear’d  ; 

Still  first  in  front  the  matchless  prince  appear’d: 
What  glorious  toils,  what  wonders  they  recite, 
Who  view’d  him  labouring  through  the  ranks  of  fight’ 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IV. 


117 


I  saw  him  once,  when,  gathering  martial  powers,  - 
A  peaceful  guest,  he  sought  Mycenae’s  towers ;  431 
Armies  he  ask’d,  and  armies  had  been  given, 

Not  we  denied,  but  Jove  forbade  from  heaven  ; 
While  dreadful  comets  glaring  from  afar 
Forewarn’d  the  horrors  of  the  Theban  war.  435 
Next,  sent  by  Greece  from  where  Asopus  flows, 

A  fearless  envoy,  he  approach’d  the  foes  ; 

Thebes’  hostile  walls,  unguarded  and  alone, 
Dauntless  he  enters,  and  demands  the  throne. 

The  tyrant  feasting  with  his  chiefs  he  found,  440 
And  dared  to  combat  all  those  chiefs  around ; 

Dared  and  subdued,  before  their  haughty  lord; 

For  Pallas  strung  his  arm,  and  edged  his  sword. 
Stung  with  the  shame,  within  the  winding  way, 

To  bar  his  passage  fifty  warriors  lay  ;  445 

Two  heroes  led  the  secret  squadron  on, 

Maeon  the  fierce,  and  hardy  Lycophron  ; 

Those  fifty  slaughter’d  in  the  gloomy  vale, 

He  spared  but  one  to  bear  the  dreadful  tale. 

Such  Tydeus  was,  and  such  his  martial  fire.  450 
Gods  !  how  the  son  degenerates  from  the  sire !” 

No  words  the  godlike  Diomed  return’d, 

But  heard  respectful,  and  in  secret  burn’d  ; 

Not  so  fierce  Capaneus’  undaunted  son, 

Stern  as  his  sire,  the  boaster  thus  begun :  455 

“  What  needs,  oh  monarch,  this  invidious  praise, 
Ourselves  to  lessen,  while  our  sires  you  raise  1 
Dare  to  be  just,  Atrides  !  and  confess 
Our  valour  equal,  though  our  fury  less. 

With  fewer  troops  we  storm’d  the  Theban  wall,  460 
And  happier  saw  the  sevenfold  city  fall. 

In  impious  acts  the  guilty  fathers  died ; 

The  sous  subdued,  for  Heaven  was  on  their  side. 

Far  more  than  heirs  of  all  our  parents’  fame, 

Our  glories  darken  their  diminish’d  name.”  465 
To  him  Tydides  thus  :  “  My  friend,  forbear. 
Suppress  thy  passion,  and  the  king  revere ; 


318 


HOMER. 


His  high  concern  may  well  excuse  this  rage, 
Whose  cause  we  follow,  and  whose  war  we  wage; 
His  the  first  praise,  were  Jlion’s  towers  o’erthrown, 
And,  if  we  fail,  the  chief  disgrace  his  own.  471 
Let  him  the  Greeks  to  hardy  toil  excite, 

’Tis  ours  lo  labour  in  the  glorious  fight.” 

He  spoke,  and,  ardent,  on  the  trembling  ground 
Sprung  from  his  car ;  his  ringing  arms  resound.  475 
Dire  was  the  clang,  and  dreadful  from  afar, 

Of  arm’d  Tydides  rushing  to  the  war. 

As  when  the  winds  ascending  by  degrees, 

First  move  the  whitening  surface  of  the  seas, 

The  billows  float  in  order  lo  the  shore,  480 

The  wave  behind  rolls  on  the  wave  before  ; 

Till,  with  the  growing  storm,  the  deeps  arise, 

Foam  o’er  the  rocks,  and  thunder  to  the  skies. 

So  to  the  fight  the  thick  battalions  throng, 

Shields  urged  on  shields,  and  men  drove  men  along. 
Sedate  and  silent  move  the  numerous  bands ;  486 

No  sound,  no  whisper,  but  their  chiefs  commands, 
Those  only  heard  ;  with  awe  the  rest  obey, 

As  if  some  god  had  snatch’d  their  voice  away. 

Not  so  the  Trojans;  from  their  host  ascends  490 
A  general  shout  that  all  the  region  rends. 

As  when  the  fleecy  flocks  unnumber’d  stand 
In  wealthy  folds,  and  wait  the  milker’s  hand, 

The  hollow  vales  incessant  bleating  fills, 

The  lambs  reply  from  all  the  neighbouring  hills:  495 
Such  clamours  rose  from  various  nations  round, 
Mix’d  was  the  murmur,  and  confused  the  sound. 
Each  host  now  joins,  and  each  a  god  inspires, 

There  Mars  incites,  and  those  Minerva  fires. 

Pale  flight  around,  and  dreadful  terror  reign;  500 
And  discord  raging  bathes  the  purple  plain ; 

Discord  !  dire  sister  of  the  slaughtering  power, 
Small  at  her  birth,  but  rising  every  hour, 

While  scarce  the  skies  her  horrid  head  can  bound. 
She  stalks  on  earth  and  shakes  the  world  around; 


ILIAD. - BCOK  IV,  119 

The  nations  bleed,  where’er  her  steps  she  turns,  506 
The  groan  still  deepens,  and  the  combat  bums. 

Now  shield  with  shield,  with  helmet  helmet  closed, 
To  armour  armour,  lance  to  lance  opposed, 

Host  against  host  with  shadowy  squadrons  drew, 
The  sounding  darts  in  iron  tempests  flew,  511 

Victors  and  vanquish’d  join  promiscuous  cries, 

And  thrilling  shouts  and  dying  groans  arise; 

With  streaming  blood  the  slippery  fields  are  died, 
And  slaughter’d  heroes  swell  the  dreadful  tide.  515 
As  torrents  roll,  increased  by  numerous  rills. 
With  rage  impetuous  down  their  echoing  hills ; 
Rush  to  the  vales,  and,  pour’d  along  the  plain, 

Roar  through  a  thousand  channels  to  the  main; 

The  distant  shepherd  trembling  hears  the  sound: 

So  mix  both  hosts,  and  so  their  cries  rebound.  521 
The  bold  Antilochus  the  slaughter  led, 

The  first  who  struck  a  valiant  Trojan  dead: 

At  great  Echepolus  the  lance  arrives, 

Raised  his  high  crest,  and  through  his  helmet  drives; 
Warm’d  in  the  brain  the  brazen  weapon  lies,  526 
And  shades  eternal  settle  o’er  his  eyes. 

So  sinks  a  tower  that  long  assaults  had  stood 
Of  force  and  fire  ;  its  walls  besmear’d  with  blood. 
Him  the  bold  leader  of  the  Abantian  throng  530 
Seized  to  despoil,  and  dragg’d  the  corpse  along : 

But  while  he  strove  to  tug  the  inserted  dart, 
Agenor’s  javelin  reach’d  the  hero’s  heart. 

His  flank,  unguarded  by  his  ample  shield,  534 

Admits  the  lance  :  he  falls,  and  spurns  the  field  ; 
The  nerves,  unbraced,  support  his  limbs  no  more  ; 
The  soul  comes  floating  in  a  tide  of  gore. 

Trojans  and  Greeks  now  gather  round  the  slain ; 
The  war  renews,  the  warriors  bleed  again  ; 

As  o’er  their  prey  rapacious  wolves  engage,  540 
Man  dies  on  man,  and  all  is  blood  and  rage. 

In  blooming  youth  fair  Simoisius  fell. 

Sent  by  great  Ajax  to  the  shades  of  hell: 


530  Elphenor. 


120 


HOMER. 


Fair  Simoisius,  whom  his  mother  bore, 

Amid  the  flocks,  on  silver  Simois’  shore  :  545 

The  nymph  descending  from  the  hills  of  Ide, 

To  seek  her  parents  on  his  flowery  side, 

Brought  forth  the  babe,  their  common  care  and  joy, 
And  thence  from  Simois  named  the  lovely  boy. 

Short  was  his  date  :  by  dreadful  Ajax  slain,  550 
He  falls,  and  renders  all  their  cares  in  vain  ! 

So  falls  a  poplar,  that  in  watery  ground 

Raised  high  the  head  with  stately  branches  crown’d; 

(Fell’d  by  some  artist  with  his  shining  steel, 

To  shape  the  circle  of  the  bending  wheel ;)  555 

Cut  down  it  lies,  tall,  smooth,  and  largely  spread, 
With  all  its  beauteous  honours  on  its  head; 

There,  left  a  subject  to  the  wind  and  rain, 

And  scorch’d  by  suns,  it  withers  on  the  plain. 

Thus,  pierced  by  Ajax,  Simoisius  lies  560 

Stretch’d  on  the  shore,  and  thus  neglected  dies. 

At  Ajax  Antiphus  his  javelin  threw; 

The  pointed  lance  with  erring  fury  flew', 

And  Leucus,  loved  by  wise  Ulysses,  slew. 

He  drops  the  corpse  of  Simoisius  slain,  565 

And  sinks  a  breathless  carcass  on  the  plain. 

This  saw  Ulysses,  and  with  grief  enraged 
Strode  w'here  the  foremost  of  the  foes  engaged ; 
Arm’d  with  his  spear,  he  meditates  the  wound, 

In  act  to  throw  ;  but  cautious  look’d  around.  570 
Struck  at  his  sight  the  Trojans  backward  drew, 

And  trembling  heard  the  javelin  as  it  flew. 

A  chief  stood  nigh,  who  from  Abydos  came, 

Old  Priam’s  son,  Democoon  was  his  name  ; 

The  weapon  entered  close  above  his  ear,  575 

Cold  through  his  temples  glides  the  whizzing  spear  ; 
With  piercing  shrieks  the  youth  resigns  his  breath, 
His  eyeballs  darken  with  the  shades  of  death ; 
Ponderous  he  falls;  his  clanging  arms  resound; 

And  his  broad  buckler  rings  against  the  ground.  580 
Seized  with  affright  the  boldest  foes  appear; 

Ev’n godlike  Hector  seems  himself  to  fear; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IV. 


121 


Slow  he  gave  way,  the  rest  tumultuous  fled  ; 

The  Greeks  with  shouts  press  on,  and  spoil  the  dead. 
But  Phoebus  now  from  llion’s  towering  height  585 
Shines  forth  revealed,  and  animates  the  fight. 
Trojans,  be  bold,  and  force  with  force  oppose; 

Your  foaming  steeds  urge  headlong  on  the  foes  ! 
Nor  are  their  bodies  rocks,  nor  ribb’d  with  steel ; 
Your  weapons  enter,  and  your  strokes  they  feel.  590 
Have  ye  forgot  what  seem’d  your  dread  before  1 
The  great,  the  fierce  Achilles  fights  no  more. 

Apollo  thus  from  Ilion’s  lofty  towers, 

Array’d  in  terrors,  roused  the  Trojan  powers  : 

While  war’s  fierce  goddess  fires  the  Grecian  foe,  595 
And  shouts  and  thunders  in  the  fields  below. 

Then  great  Diores  fell,  by  doom  divine, 

In  vain  his  valour,  and  illustrious  line. 

A  broken  rock  the  force  of  Pirus  threw  ; 

(Who  from  cold  Ahius  led  the  Thracian  crew  ;)  600 
Full  on  his  ankle  dropp’d  the  ponderous  stone, 

Burst  the  strong  nerves,  and  crush’d  the  solid  bone  : 
Supine  he  tumbles  on  the  crimson  sands, 

Before  his  helpless  friends  and  native  bands, 

And  spreads  for  aid  his  unavailing  hands.  605 

The  foe  rush’d  furious  as  he  pants  for  breath, 

And  through  his  navel  drove  the  pointed  death  : 

His  gushing  entrails  smoked  upon  the  ground, 

And  the  warm  life  came  issuing  from  the  wound. 

His  lance  bold  Thoas  at  the  conqueror  sent ;  610 
Deep  in  his  breast  above  the  pap  it  went. 

Amid  the  lungs  was  fix’d  the  winged  wood, 

And  quivering  in  his  heaving  bosom  stood  : 

Till  from  the  dying  chief,  approaching  near, 

The  iEtolian  warrior  tugg’d  his  weighty  spear:  615 
Then  sudden  waved  his  flaming  falchion  round, 

And  gash’d  his  belly  with  a  ghastly  wound. 

The  corpse  now  breathless  on  the  bloody  plain, 

To  spoil  his  arms  the  victor  strove  in  vain ; 

The  Thracian  bands  against  the  victor  press’d  $  620 
A  grove  of  lances  glittered  at  his  breast, 
a  O'.!. — !• — L 


122 


HOMER. 


Stern  Thoas,  glaring  with  revengeful  eyes, 

In  sullen  fury  slowly  quits  the  prize. 

Thus  fell  two  heroes ;  one  the  pride  of  Thrace, 
And  one  the  leader  of  the  Epeian  race  :  625 

Death’s  sable  shade  at  once  o’ercast  their  eyes, 

In  dust  the  vanquish’d  and  the  victor  lies. 

With  copious  slaughter  all  the  fields  are  red, 

And  heap’d  with  growing  mountains  of  the  dead. 

Had  some  brave  chief  this  martial  scene  beheld, 
By  Pallas  guarded  through  the  dreadful  field  ;  631 

Might  darts  be  bid  to  turn  their  points  away, 

And  swords  around  him  innocently  play  ; 

The  war’s  whole  art  with  wonder  had  he  seen, 

And  counted  heroes  where  he  counted  men.  635 
So  fought  each  host  with  thirst  of  glory  fired, 

And  crowds  on  crowds  triumphantly  expired. 


i  * 


i  < 1 


/ 


BOOK  V. 

ARGUMENT. 

The  Acts  of  Diomed. 

Diomed,  assisted  by  Pallas,  performs  wonders  in  this  days 
battle — Pandarus  wounds  him  with  an  arrow,  but  the  god¬ 
dess  cures  him,  enables  him  to  discern  gods  from  mortals,  and 
prohibits  him  from  contending  with  any  of  the  former,  except¬ 
ing  Venus — ACneas joins  Pandarus  to  oppose  him  ;  Pandarus 
is  killed,  and  AEneas  in  great  danger,  but  for  the  assistance 
of  Venus  ;  who,  as  she  is  removing  her  son  from  the  fight, 
is  wounded  on  the  hand  by  Diomed— Apollo  seconds  her  in 
his  rescue,  and  at  length  carries  off  AEneas  to  Troy,  where 
he  is  healed  in  the  temple  of  Pergamus — Mars  rallies  the 
Trojans,  and  assists  Hector  to  make  a  stand — In  the  mean 
time  AEneas  is  restored  to  the  field,  and  they  overthrow  seve¬ 
ral  of  the  Greeks  ;  among  the  rest  Tlepolemus  is  slain  by 
Sarpedon — Juno  and  Minerva  descend  to  resist  Mars;  the  lat¬ 
ter  incites  Diomed  to  go  against  that  god  ;  he  wounds  him, 
and  sends  him  groaning  to  heaven.— [The  first  battle  con¬ 
tinues  through  this  book.  The  scene  is  the  same  as  in  the 
former.] 


But  Pallas  now  Tydides’  soul  inspires, 

Fills  with  her  force,  and  warms  with  all  her  fires, 
Above  the  Greeks  his  deathless  fame  to  raise, 

And  crown  her  hero  with  distinguish’d  praise. 

High  on  his  helm  celestial  lightnings  play,  5 

His  beamy  shield  emits  a  living  ray  ; 

The  unwearied  blaze  incessant  streams  supplies, 
Like  the  red  star  that  fires  the  autumnal  skies, 
When  fresh  he  rears  his  radiant  orb  to  sight, 

And  bathed  in  ocean  shoots  a  keener  light.  10 

Such  glories  Pallas  on  the  chief  bestow’d, 

Such,  from  his  arms,  the  fierce  effulgence  flow’d: 


124 


1I0MER. 


Onward  she  drives  him,  furious  to  engrave, 

Where  the  fight  burns,  and  where  the  thickest  rage 
The  sons  of  Dares  first  the  combat  sought,  15 
A  wealthy  priest,  but  rich  without  a  fault: 

In  Vulcan’s  fane  the  father’s  days  were  led, 

The  sons  to  toils  of  glorious  battle  bred: 

These  singled  from  their  troops  the  fight  maintain, 
These  from  their  steeds,  Tydides  on  the  plain.  20 
Fierce  for  renown  the  brother  chiefs  draw  near, 

And  first  bold  Phegeus  cast  his  sounding  spear, 
Which  o’er  the  warrior’s  shoulder  took  its  course, 
And  spent  in  empty  air  its  erring  force. 

Not  so,  Tydides,  flew  thy  lance  in  vain,  25 

But  pierced  his  breast,  and  stretch’d  him  on  the  plain. 
Seized  with  unusual  fear,  Idseus  fled, 

Left  the  rich  chariot,  and  his  brother  dead  ; 

And  had  not  Vulcan  lent  celestial  aid, 

He  too  had  sunk  to  death’s  eternal  shade :  30 

But  in  a  smoky  cloud  the  god  of  fire 
Preserved  the  son,  in  pity  to  the  sire. 

The  steeds  and  chariot,  to  the  navy  led, 

Increased  the  spoils  of  gallant  Diomed. 

Struck  with  amaze  and  shame,  the  Trojan  crew  35 
Or  slain,  or  fled,  the  sons  of  Dares  view  ; 

When  by  the  blood-stain’d  hand  Minerva  press’d 
The  god  of  battles,  and  this  speech  address’d  : 

“Stern  power  of  war!  by  whom  the  mighty  fall, 
Who  bathe  in  blood,  and  shake  the  lofty  wall !  40 

Let  the  brave  chiefs  their  glorious  toils  divide  ; 

A.nd  whose  the  conquest  mighty  Jove  decide  ; 

While  we  from  interdicted  fields  retire, 

Nor  tempt  the  wrath  of  heaven’s  avenging  sire;” 

Her  words  allay’d  the  impetuous  warrior’s  heat ;  45 
The  god  of  arms  and  martial  maid  retreat: 

Remov’d  from  fight,  on  Xanthus’  flowery  bounds 
They  sat,  and  listen’d  to  the  dving  sounds. 

Meantime,  the  Greeks  the  Trojan  race  pursue, 

And  some  bold  chieftain  every  leader  slew.  50 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


125 


First  Odius  falls,  and  bites  the  bloody  sand, 

His  death  ennobled  by  Atrides’  hand: 

As  he  to  flight  his  wheeling  car  address’d, 

The  speedy  javelin  drove  from  back  to  breast. 

In  dust  the  mighty  Halizonian  lay,  55 

His  arms  resound,  the  spirit  wings  its  way. 

Thy  fate  was  next,  oh  Phaestus  !  doom’d  to  feel 
The  great  Idomeneus’  protended  steel ; 

Whom  Borus  sent  (his  son  and  only  joy) 

From  fruitful  Tarne  to  the  fields  of  Troy.  60 

The  Cretan  javelin  reached  him  from  afar, 

And  pierced  his  shoulder  as  he  mounts  his  car; 
Back  from  the  car  he  tumbles  to  the  ground, 

And  everlasting  shades  his  eyes  surround. 

Then  died  Scamandrius,  expert  in  the  chase,  65 
In  woods  and  wilds  to  wound  the  savage  race ; 

Diana  taught  him  all  her  sylvan  arts, 

To  bend  the  bow,  and  aim  unerring  darts : 

But  vainly  here  Diana’s  arts  he  tries, 

The  fatal  lance  arrests  him  as  he  flies ;  70 

From  Menelaus’  arm  the  weapon  sent. 

Through  his  broad  back  and  heaving  bosom  went: 
Down  sinks  the  warrior  with  a  thundering  sound, 
His  brazen  armour  rings  against  the  ground. 

Next  artful  Phereclus  untimely  fell ;  75 

Bold  Merion  sent  him  to  the  realms  of  hell. 

Thy  father’s  skill,  oh  Phereclus,  was  thine, 

The  graceful  fabric  and  the  fair  design  ; 

For,  loved  by  Pallas,  Pallas  did  impart 

To  him  the  shipwright’s  and  the  builder’s  art.  80 

Beneath  his  hand  the  fleet  of  Paris  rose, 

The  fatal  cause  of  all  his  country’s  woes ; 

But  he,  the  mystic  will  of  Heaven  unknown, 

Nor  saw  his  country’s  peril,  nor  his  own. 

The  hapless  artist,  while  confused  he  fled,  85 

The  spear  of  Merion  mingled  with  the  dead. 

Through  his  right  hip  with  forceful  fury  cast, 
Between  the  bladder  and  the  bone  it  pass’d: 

l2 


126 


HOMER. 


Prone  on  his  knees  he  falls  with  fruitless  cries, 

And  death  in  lasting  slumber  seals  his  eyes.  90 
From  Meges’  force  the  swift  Pedseus  fled, 
Antenor’s  offspring  from  a  foreign  bed, 

Whose  generous  spouse,  Theano,  heavenly  fair, 
Nursed  the  young  stranger  with  a  mother’s  caie. 
How  vain  those  cares  !  when  Meges  in  the  rear  95 
Full  in  his  nape  infix’d  the  fatal  spear; 

Swift  through  his  eracklingjaws  the  weapon  glides, 
And  the  cold  tongue  the  grinning  teeth  divides. 

Then  died  Hypsenor,  generous  and  divine, 

Sprung  from  the  brave  Dolopian’s  mighty  line, 

Who  near  adored  Scamander  made  abode, 

Priest  of  the  stream,  and  honour’d  as  a  god. 

On  him,  amid  the  flying  numbers  found, 

Erypylus  inflicts  a  deadly  wound ; 

On  his  broad  shoulder  fell  the  forceful  brand,  105 
Then  glancing  downward  lopp’d  his  holy  hand, 
Which  stain’d  with  sacred  blood  the  blushing  sand. 
Down  sunk  the  priest;  the  purple  hand  of  death 
Closed  his  dim  eye,  and  fate  suppress’d  his  breath. 

Thus  toil’d  the  chiefs,  in  different  parts  engaged, 
In  every  quarter  fierce  Tydides  raged,  111 

Amid  the  Greek,  amid  the  Trojan  train, 

Kapt  through  the  ranks  he  thunders  o’er  the  plain; 
Now  here,  now  there,  he  darts  from  place  to  place, 
Pours  on  the  rear,  or  lightens  in  their  face.  1J5 
Thus  from  high  hills  the  torrents  swift  and  strong 
Deluge  whole  fields,  and  sweep  the  trees  along, 
Through  ruin’d  moles  the  rushing  wave  resounds, 
O’erwhelms  the  bridge,  and  bursts  the  lofty  bounds. 
The  yellow  harvests  of  the  ripen’d  year,  120 

And  flatted  vineyards, one  sad  waste  appear! 

While  Jove  descends  in  sluicy  sheets  of  rain, 

And  all  the  labours  of  mankind  are  vain. 

So  raged  Tydides,  boundless  in  his  ire, 

Drove  armies  back,  and  made  all  Troy  retire.  125 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


127 


With  grief  the  leader  of  the  Lycian  band 
Saw  the  wide  waste  of  his  destructive  hand: 

His  bended  bow  against  the  chief  he  drew  ; 

Swift  to  the  mark  the  thirsty  arrow  flew, 

Whose  forky  point  the  hollow  breastplate  tore,  130 
Deep  in  his  shoulder  pierced,  and  drank  the  gore  : 
The  rushing  stream  his  brazen  armour  died, 

While  the  proud  archer  thus  exulting  cried  : 

“  Hither,  ye  Trojans,  hither  drive  your  steeds  ! 

Lo  !  by  our  hand  the  bravest  Grecian  bleeds.  135 
Not  long  the  dreadful  dart  he  can  sustain ; 

Or  Phoebus  urged  me  to  these  fields  in  vain.” 

So  spoke  he,  boastful;  but  the  winged  dart 
Stopp’d  short  of  life,  and  mock’ll  the  shooter’s  art. 
The  wounded  chief  behind  his  car  retir’d,  140 

The  helping  hand  of  Sthenelus  required  : 

Swift  from  his  seat  he  leap’d  upon  the  ground, 

And  tugg’d  the  weapon  from  the  gushing  wound ; 
When  thus  the  king  his  guardian  power  address’d, 
The  purple  current  wandering  o’er  his  vest :  145 

1  “  Oh  progeny  of  Jove  !  unconquer’d  maid! 

If  e’er  my  godlike  sire  deserved  thy  aid, 

If  e’er  1  felt  thee  in  the  fighting  field  ; 

Now,  goddess,  now  thy  sacred  succour  yield. 

Oh  give  my  lance  to  reach  the  Trojan  knight,  150 
Whose  arrow  wounds  the  chief  thou  guard’st  in 
fight; 

And  lay  the  boaster  grovelling  on  the  shore, 

That  vaunts  these  eyes  shall  view  the  light  no  more!” 

Thus  pray’d  Tydides,  and  Minerva  heard  ; 

His  nerves  confirm’d,  his  languid  spirits  cheer’d,  155 
He  feels  each  limb  with  wonted  vigour  light: 

His  beating  bosom  claims  the  promised  fight. 

“  Be  bold,”  she  cried,  “  in  every  combat  shine  ; 

War  be  thy  province,  thy  protection  mine ; 

Rush  to  the  fight,  and  every  foe  control;  160 

Wake  each  paternal  virtue  in  thy  soul: 


126  Pandarus. 


HOMER. 


128 

Strength  swells  thy  boiling  breast,  infused  by  me, 
And  all  thy  godlike  father  breathes  in  thee  ! 

Yet  more,  from  mortal  mists  l  purge  thy  eyes, 

And  set  to  view  the  warring  deities.  1C5 

These  see  thou  shun,  through  all  the  embattled  plain, 
Nor  rashly  strive  where  human  force  is  vain. 

If  Venus  mingle  in  the  martial  band, 

Her  shaltthou  wound  :  so  Pallas  gives  command.” 

With  that,  the  blue-eyed  virgin  wing’d  her  flight ; 
The  hero  rush’d  impetuous  to  the  fight;  171 

With  tenfold  ardour  now  invades  the  plain, 

Wild  wilh  delay,  and  more  enraged  by  pain. 

As  on  the  fleecy  flocks,  when  hunger  calls, 

Amid  the  field  a  brindled  lion  falls  ;  175 

If  chance  some  shepherd  wilh  a  distant  dart 
The  savage  wound,  he  rouses  at  the  smart, 

He  foams,  he  roars;  the  shepherd  dares  not  stay, 
But  trembling  leaves  the  scattering  flocks  a  prey  ; 
Heaps  fall  on  heaps ;  he  bathes  with  blood  the 
ground,  180 

Then  leaps  victorious  o’er  the  lofty  mound.  * 
Not  with  less  fury  stern  Tydides  flew; 

And  two  brave  leaders  at  an  instant  slew : 

Astynous  breathless  fell,  and  by  his  side 
His  people’s  pastor,  good  Hypenor,  died  ;  185 

Astynous’  breast  the  deadly  lance  receives, 
Hypenor’s  shoulder  his  broad  falchion  cleaves. 
Those  slain  he  left ;  and  sprung  with  noble  rage 
Abas  and  Polyidus  to  engage; 

Sons  of  Kurydamas,  who,  wise  and  old,  190 

Could  fates  foresee,  and  mystic  dreams  unfold  : 

The  youths  return’d  not  from  the  doubtful  plain, 
And  the  sad  father  tried  his  arts  in  vain ; 

No  mystic  dream  could  make  their  fates  appear, 
Though  now  determined  by  Tydides’  spear.  195 
Young  Xanthus  next,  and  Thoon  felt  his  rage  ; 
The  joy  and  hope  of  Phaenops’  feeble  age  ; 

Vast  was  his  wealth,  and  these  the  only  heirs 
Of  all  his  labours  and  a  life  of  cares. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  V. 


129 


Cold  death  o’ertakes  them  in  their  blooming  years, 
And  leaves  the  father  unavailing  tears :  201 

To  strangers  now  descends  his  heapy  store, 

The  race  forgotten,  and  the  name  no  more. 

Two  sons  of  Priam  in  one  chariot  ride, 

Glittering  in  arms,  and  combat  side  bjr  side.  205 
As  when  the  lordly  lion  seeks  his  food 
Where  grazing  heifers  range  the  lonely  wood, 

He  leaps  amid  them  with  a  furious  bound, 

Bends  their  strong  necks,  and  tears  them  to  the 
ground : 

So  from  their  seats  the  brother  chiefs  are  torn,  210 
Their  steeds  and  chariot  to  the  navy  borne. 

With  deep  concern  divine  ./Eneas  view’d 
The  foe  prevailing,  and  his  friends  pursued. 

Through  the  thick  storm  of  singing  spears  he  flies, 
Exploring  Pandarus  with  careful  eyes.  215 

At  length  he  found  Lycaon’s  mighty  son ; 

To  whom  the  chief  of  Venus’  race  begun  : 

“  Where,  Pandarus,  are  all  thy  honours  now, 

Thy  winged  arrows  and  unerring  bow, 

Thy  matchless  skill,  thy  yet  unrivall’d  fame,  220 
And  boasted  glory  of  the  Lycian  name  ? 

Oh  pierce  that  mortal !  if  we  mortal  call 
That  wondrous  force  by  which  whole  armies  fall; 

Or  god  incensed,  who  quits  the  distant  skies 
To  punish  Troy  for  slighted  sacrifice  ;  225 

(Which  oh  avert  from  our  unhappy  state ! 

For  what  so  dreadful  as  celestial  hate  1) 

Whoe’er  he  be,  propitiate  Jove  with  prayer; 

If  man,  destroy  ;  if  god,  enireat  to  spare.” 

To  him  the  Lycian :  “  Whom  your  eyes  behold, 

If  right  I  judge,  is  Diomed  the  bold  :  231 

Such  coursers  whirl  him  o’er  the  dusty  field, 

So  towers  his  helmet,  and  so  flames  his  shield. 

If  ’tis  a  god,  he  wears  that  chief’s  disguise  ;  1 
Or  if  that  chief,  some  guardian  of  the  skies,  235 
Involved  in  clouds,  protects  him  in  the  fray, 

And  turns  unseen  the  frustrate  dart  away. 


130 


IIOMEIl. 


I  wing’d  an  arrow,  which  not  idly  fell, 

The  stroke  had  fix’d  him  to  the  gates  of  hell  ; 

And,  but  some  god,  some  angry  god,  withstands,  240 
His  fate  was  due  to  these  unerring  hands. 

Skill’d  in  the  bow,  on  foot  I  sought  the  war, 

Nor  join’d  swift  horses  to  the  rapid  car. 

Ten  polish’d  chariots  I  possess’d  at  home, 

And  still  they  grace  Lycaon’s  princely  dome :  245 

There  veil’d  in  spacious  coverlets  they  stand  ; 

And  twice  ten  coursers  wait  their  lord’s  command. 
The  good  old  warrior  bade  me  trust  to  these, 

When  first  for  Troy  I  sail'd  the  sacred  seas ; 

In  fields,  aloft,  the  whirling  car  to  guide,  250 

And  through  the  ranks  of  death  triumphant  ride. 

But  vain  with  youth,  and  yet  to  thrift  inclined, 

I  heard  his  counsels  with  unheedful  mind, 

And  thought  the  steeds  (your  large  supplies  unknown) 
Might  fail  of  forage  in  the  straiten’d  town;  255 
So  took  my  bow  and  pointed  darts  in  hand, 

And  left  the  chariots  in  my  native  land. 

“Too  late,  oh  friend  !  my  rashness  I  deplore  ; 
These  shafts,  once  fatal,  carry  death  no  more. 
Tydeus’  and  Atreus’  sons  their  points  have  found, 
And  undissembled  gore  pursued  the  wound.  261 
In  vain  they  bled  :  this  unavailing  bow 
Serves,  not  to  slaughter,  but  provoke  the  foe. 

In  evil  hour  these  bended  horns  I  strung, 

And  seized  the  quiver  where  it  idly  hung.  265 
Cursed  be  the  fate  that  sent  me  to  the  field, 

W  ithout  a  warrior's  arms,  the  spear  and  shield! 

If  e’er  with  life  1  quit  the  Trojan  plain, 

Ife’  er  I  see  my  spouse  and  sire  again, 

This  bow,  unfaithful  to  my  glorious  aims,  270 

Broke  by  my  hand,  shall  feed  the  blazing  flames.” 

To  whom  the  leader  of  the  T)ardan  race  : 

“  Be  c-alm,  nor  Phoebus’  honour’d  gift  disgrace. 

The  distant  dart  be  praised,  though  here  we  need 
The  rushing  chariot  and  the  bounding  steed.  275 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


131 


Against  yon  hero  let  us  bend  our  course, 

And,  hand  to  hand,  encounter  force  with  force. 

#  Now  mount  my  seat,  and  from  the  chariot’s  height 
Observe  my  father’s  steeds,  renown’d  in  fight. 
Practised  alike  to  turn,  to  step,  to  chase,  280 

To  dare  the  shock,  or  urge  the,  rapid  race : 

Secure  with  these,  through  fighting  fields  we  go  ; 

Or  safe  to  Troy,  if  Jove  assist  the  foe. 

Haste,  seize  the  whip,  and  snatch  the  guiding  rein; 
The  warrior’s  fury  let  this  arm  sustain;  285 

Or,  if  to  combat  thy  bold  heart  incline, 

Take  thou  the  spear,  the  chariot’s  care  be  mine.” 

“  Oh  prince  !”  Lycaon’s  valiant  son  replied, 

“  As  thine  the  steeds,  be  thine  the  task  to  guide. 

The  horses,  practised  to  their  lord’s  command,  290 
Shall  hear  the  rein,  and  answer  to  thy  hand. 

But  if,  unhappy,  we  desert  the  fight, 

Thy  voice  alone  can  animate  their  flight : 

Else  shall  our  fates  be-  number’d  with  the  dead, 

And  these,  the  victor’s  prize,  in  triumph  led.  295 
Thine  be  the  guidance  then :  with  spear  and  shield 
Myself  will  charge  this  terror  of  the  fit-id.” 

And  now  .both  heroes  mount  the  glittering  car; 
The  bounding  coursers  rush  amid  the  war. 

Their  fierce  approach  bold  Sthenelus  espied,  300 
Who  thus,  alarm’d,  to  great  Tydides  cried  : 

“  Oh  friend  !  two  chiefs  of  force  immense  I  see, 
Dreadful  they  come,  and  bend  their  rage  on  thee : 
Lo,  the  brave  heir  of  old  Lycaon’s  line, 

And  great  Aeneas,  sprung  from  race  divine!  305 
Enough  is  given  to  fame.  Ascend  thy  car, 

And  save  a  life  the  bulwark  of  our  war.” 

At  this  the  hero  cast  a  gloomy  look, 

Fix’d  on  the  chief  with  scorn  ;  and  thus  he  spoke : 

“  Me  dost  thou  bid  to  shun  the  coming  fi^ht?  310 
Me  wouldst  thou  move  to  base,  inglorious  flight] 
Know,  ’tis  not  honest  in  my  soul  to  fear, 

Nor  was  Tydides  born  to  tremble  here. 


132 


HOMER. 


I  hate  the  cumbrous  chariot’s  slow  advance, 

And  the  long  distance  of  the  flying  lance ;  315 

But  while  my  nerves  are  strong,  my  force  entire, 
Thus  front  the  foe,  and  emulate  my  sire. 

Nor  shall  yon  steeds  that  fierce  to  fight  convey 
Those  threat’ning  heroes,  bear  them  both  away; 
One  chief  at  least  beneath  this  arm  shall  die;  320 
So  Pallas  tells  me,  and  forbids  to  fly. 

But  if  she  dooms,  and  if  no  god  withstand, 

That  both  shall  fall  by  one  victorious  hand, 

Then  heed  my  words  :  my  horses  here  detain, 

Fix’d  to  the  chariot  by  the  straiten’d  rein :  325 

Swift  to  vEneas’  empty  seat  proceed, 

And  seize  the  coursers  of  ethereal  breed  : 

The  race  of  those  which  once  the  thund’ring  god 
For  ravish’d  Ganymede  on  Tros  bestow’d, 

The  best  that  e’er  on  earth’s  broad  surface  run,  330 
Beneath  the  rising  or  the  setting  sun. 

Hence  great  Anchises  stole  a  breed,  unknown 
By  mortal  mares,  from  fierce  Laomedon: 

Four  of  this  race  his  ample  stalls  contain, 

And  two  transport  ASneas  o’er  the  plain.  335 

These,  were  the  rich  immortal  prize  our  own, 
Through  the  wide  world  should  make  our  glory 
known.” 

Thus  while  they  spoke,  the  foe  came  furious  on, 
And  stern  Lycaon’s  warlike  race  begun : 

“  Prince,  thou  art  met.  Though  late  in  vain  as¬ 
sail’d,  .  340 

The  spear  may  enter  where  the  arrow  fail’d.” 

He  said,  then  shook  the  ponderous  lance,  and  flung; 
On  his  broad  shield  the  sounding  weapon  rung, 
Pierced  the  tough  orb,  and  in  his  cuirass  hung. 

“  He  bleeds  !  the  pride  of  Greece  !”  the  boaster  cries, 
“  Our  triumph  now,  the  mighty  warrior  lies  !”  34G 

“Mistaken  vaunter!”  Diomed  replied; 

“  Thy  dart  has  err’d,  and  now  my  spear  be  tried  : 

Ye  ’scape  not  both  ;  one,  headlong  from  his  car, 
With  hostile  blood  shall  glut  the  god  of  war.”  350 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


133 


He  spoke,  and  rising  hurl’d  his  forceful  dart, 
Which,  driven  by  Pallas,  pierced  a  vital  part; 

Full  in  his  face  it  enter’d,  and  betwixt 
The  nose  and  eyeball  the  proud  Lycian  fix’d  ; 
Crash’d  all  his  jaws,  and  cleft  the  tongue  within,  355 
Till  the  bright  point  look’d  out  beneath  the  chin. 
Headlong  he  falls,  his  helmet  knocks  the  ground; 
Earth  groans  beneath  him,  and  his  arms  resound; 
The  starting  coursers  tremble  with  affright ; 

The  soul  indignant  seeks  the  realms  of  night.  360 
To  guard  his  slaughter’d  friend  vEneas  flies, 

His  spear  extending  where  the  carcass  lies; 
Watchful  he  wheels,  protects  it  every  way, 

As  the  grim  lion  stalks  around  his  prey. 

O’er  the  fall’ll  trunk  his  ample  shield  display’d,  365 
He  hides  the  hero  with  his  mighty  shade. 

And  threats  aloud  :  the  Greeks  with  longing  eyes 
Behold  at  distance,  but  forbear  the  prize. 

Then  fierce  Tydides  stoops ;  and  from  the  fields, 
Heaved  with  vast  force,  a  rocky  fragment  wields  : 
Not  two  strong  men  the  enormous  weight  could 
raise,  371 

Such  men  as  live  in  these  degenerate  days. 

He  swung  it  round  ;  and  gathering  strength  to  throw, 
Discharged  the  ponderous  ruin  at  the  foe. 

Where  to  the  hip  the  inserted  thigh  unites,  375 
Full  on  the  bone  the  pointed  marble  lights ; 
Through  both  the  tendons  broke  the  rugged  stone, 
And  stripp’d  the  skin,  and  crack’d  the  solid  bone. 
Sunk  on  his  knees,  and  staggering  with  his  pains, 
His  falling  bulk  his  bended  arm  sustains ;  380 

Lost  in  a  dizzy  mist  the  warrior  lies, 

A  sudden  cloud  comes  swimming  o’er  his  eyes. 
There  the  brave  chief,  who  mighty  numbers  sway’d, 
Oppress’d  had  sunk  to  death’s  eternal  shade  ; 

But  heavenly  Venus,  mindful  of  the  love  385 

She  bore  Anchises  in  the  Idaean  grove, 

His  danger  views  with  anguish  and  despair, 

And  guards  her  offspring  with  a  mother’s  care : 
hom. — i. — m 


134 


HOMER. 


About  her  much-loved  son  her  arms  she  throws, 

Her  arms  whose  whiteness  match  the  falling  snows. 
Screen’d  from  the  foe  behind  her  shining  veil,  391 
The  swords  wave  harmless,  and  the  javelins  fail : 
Safe  through  the  rushing  horse,  and  feather’d  flight 
Of  sounding  shafts,  she  bears  him  from  the  fight. 

Nor  Sthenelus,  w  ith  unassisting  hands,  395 

Remain’d  unheedful  of  his  lord’s  commands  : 

His  panting  steeds,  removed  from  out  the  war, 

He  fix’d  with  straiten’d  traces  to  the  car. 

Next  rushing  to  the  Dardan  spoil,  detains 
The  heavenly  coursers  with  the  flowing  manes  : 
These,  in  proud  triumph  to  the  fleet  convey’d,  401 
No  longer  now  a  Trojan  lord  obey’d. 

That  charge  to  bold  Deipylus  he  gave ; 

(Whom  most  he  loved,  as  brave  men  love  the  brave  ;) 
Then  mounting  on  his  car,  resum’d  the  rein,  405 
And  follow’d  where  Tydides  swept  the  plain. 

Meanwhile  (his  conquest  ravish’d  from  his  eyes) 
The  raging  chief  in  chase  of  Venus  flies : 

No  goddess  she  commissioned  to  the  field, 

Like  Pallas  dreadful  with  her  sable  shield,  410 
Or  fierce  Bellona  thundering  at  the  wall, 

While  flames  ascend,  and  mighty  ruins  fall; 

He  knew  soft  combats  suit  the  tender  dame, 

New  to  the  field,  and  still  a  foe  to  fame. 

Through  breaking  ranks  his  furious  course  he  bends, 
And  at  the  goddess  his  broad  lance  extends ;  416 

Through  her  bright  veil  the  daring  weapon  drove, 
The  ambrosial  veil  w  hich  all  the  Graces  wove ; 

Her  snowy  hand  the  razing  steel  profaned, 

And  the  transparent  skin  with  crimson  stain’d.  420 
From  the  clear  vein  a  stream  immortal  flow’d, 

Such  stream  as  issues  from  a  wounded  god : 

Pure  emanation  ;  uncorfupted  flood  ; 

Unlike  our  gross,  diseased,  terrestrial  blood : 

(For  not  the  bread  of  man  their  life  sustains,  425 
Nor  wine’s  inflaming  juice  supplies  their  veins.) 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


135 


With  tender  shrieks  the  goddess  fill’d  the  place, 

And  dropp’d  her  offspring  from  her  weak  embrace. 
Him  Phoebus  took ;  he  casts  a  cloud  around 
The  fainting  chief,  and  wards  the  mortal  wound.  430 
Then,  with  a  voice  that  shook  the  vaulted  skies, 
The  king  insults  the  goddess  as  she  flies:  • 

“  Ill  with  Jove’s  daughter  bloody  fights  agree, 

The  field  of  combat  is  no  scene  for  thee ; 

Go,  let  thy  own  soft  sex  employ  thy  care,  435 
Go,  lull  the  coward,  or  delude  the  fair  : 

Taught  by  this  stroke,  renounce  the  war’s  alarms, 
And  learn  to  tremble  at  the  name  of  arms.” 

Tydides  thus.  The  goddess,  seized  with  dread, 
Confused,  distracted,  from  the  conflict  fled.  440 
To  aid  her,  swift  the  winged  Iris  flew, 

Wrapp’d  in  a  mist  above  the  warring  crew: 

The  queen  of  love  with  faded  charms  she  found, 
Pale  was  her  cheek,  and  livid  look’d  the  wound. 

To  Mars,  who  sat  remote,  they  bent  their  way,  445 
Far  on  the  left,  with  clouds  involved  he  lay  ; 

Beside  him  stood  his  lance,  distain’d  with  gore, 

And,  rein’d  with  gold,  his  foaming  steeds  before. 
Low  at  his  knee  she  begg’d,  with  streaming  eyes, 
Her  brother’s  car,  to  mount  the  distant  skies,  450 
And  show’d  the  wound  by  fierce  Tydides  given, 

A  mortal  man,  who  dares  encounter  Heaven. 

Stern  Mars  attentive  hears  the  queen  complain, 

And  to  her  hand  commits  the  golden  rein ; 

She  mounts  the  seat,  oppress’d  with  silent  wo,  455 
Driven  by  the  goddess  of  the  painted  bow. 

The  lash  resounds,  the  rapid  chariot  flies, 

And  in  a  moment  scales  the  lofty  skies  : 

There  stopp’d  the  car,  and  there  the  coursers  stood. 
Fed  by  fair  Iris  with  ambrosial  food.  460 

Before  her  mother  We’s  bright  queen  appears, 
O’erwhelm’d  with  anguish,  and  dissolved  in  tears; 
She  raised  her  in  her  arms,  beheld  her  bleed, 

And  asked  what  god  had  wrought  this  guilty  deed. 


136 


HOMER. 


Then  she :  “  This  insult  from  no  god  I  found,  465 
An  impious  mortal  gave  the  daring  wound  ! 

Behold  the  deed  of  haughty  Diomed  ! 

’Twas  in  the  son’s  defence  the  mother  bled. 

The  war  with  Troy  no  more  the  Grecians  wage, 

But  with  the  gods,  the  immortal  gods,  engage.”  470 
Dione  then  :  “  Thy  wrongs  with  patience  bear, 
And  share  those  griefs  inferior  powers  must  share: 
Unnumber’d  woes  mankind  from  us  sustain, 

And  men  with  woes  afflict  the  gods  again. 

The  mighty  Mars  in  mortal  fetters  bound,  475 
And  lodged  in  brazen  dungeons  under  ground, 

Full  thirteen  moons  imprison’d  roar’d  in  vain, 

Otus  and  Ephialtes  held  the  chain: 

Perhaps  had  perish’d,  had  not  Hermes’  care 
Restored  the  groaning  god  to  upper  air.  480 

Great  Juno’s  self  has  borne  her  weight  of  pain, 

The  imperial  partner  of  the  heavenly  reign  ; 
Amphitryon’s  sons  infix’d  the  deadly  dart. 

And  fill'd  with  anguish  her  immortal  heart. 

Ev’n  hell’s  grim  king  Alcides’  power  confess’d,  485 
The  shaft  found  entrance  in  his  iron  breast ; 

To  Jove’s  high  palace  for  a  cure  he  fled, 

Pierced  in  his  own  dominions  of  the  dead, 

Where  Phaeon,  sprinkling  heavenly  balm  around, 
Assuaged  the  glowing  pangs,  and  closed  the  wound. 
Rash,  impious  man !  to  stain  the  bless’d  abodes,  491 
And  drench  his  arrows  in  the  blood  of  gods  ! 

But  thou  (though  Pallas  urged  thy  frantic  deed) 
Whose  spear  ill-fated  makes  a  goddess  bleed, 

Know  thou,  whoe’er  with  heavenly  power  contends, 
Short  is  his  date,  and  soon  his  glory  ends;  496 
From  fields  of  death  when  late  he  shall  retire, 

No  infant  on  his  knees  shall  call  him  sire. 

Strong  as  thou  art,  some  god  may  yet  be  found 
To  stretch  thee  pale  and  gasping  on  the  ground ; 
Thy  distant  wife,  .Egiale  the  fair,  501 

Starting  from  sleep  with  a  distracted  air, 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


137 


Shall  rouse  thy  slaves,  and  her  lost  lord  deplore, 
The  brave,  the  great,  the  glorious,  now  no  more !” 

This  said,  she  wiped  from  Venus’  wounded  palm 
The  sacred  ichor,  and  infused  the  balm.  506 

Juno  and  Pallas  with  a  smile  survey’d, 

And  thus  to  Jove  began  the  blue-eyed  maid  : 

“  Permit  thy  daughter,  gracious  Jove  !  to  tell 
How  this  mischance  the  Cyprian  queen  befell.  510 
As  late  she  tried  with  passion  to  inflame 
The  tender  bosom  of  a  Grecian  dame, 

Allured  the  fair  with  moving  thoughts  of  joy, 

To  quit  her  country  for  some  youth  of  Troy; 

The  clasping  zone,  with  golden  buckles  bound,  515 
Razed  her  soft  hand  with  this  lamented  wound.” 

The  sire  of  gods  and  men  superior  smiled, 

And,  calling  Venus,  thus  address’d  his  child: 

“  Not  these,  oh  daughter,  are  thy  proper  cares, 
Thee  milder  arts  befit,  and  softer  wars  :  520 

Sweet  smiles  are  thine,  and  kind  endearing  charms ; 
To  Mars  and  Pallas  leave  the  deeds  of  arms.” 

Thus  they  in  heaven  :  while  on  the  plain  below 
The  fierce  Tydides  charged  his  Dardan  foe, 

Flush’d  with  celestial  blood  pursued  his  way,  525 
And  fearless  dared  the  threat’ning  god  of  day; 
Already  in  his  hopes  he  saw  him  kill’d, 

Though  screen’d  behind  Apollo’s  mighty  shield. 
Thrice  rushing  furious,  at  the  chief  he  struck  ; 

His  blazing  buckler  thrice  Apollo  shook:  530 

He  tried  the  fourth:  when, breaking  from  the  cloud, 
A  more  than  mortal  voice  was  heard  aloud : 

“  Oh  son  of  Tydeus,  cease !  be  wise,  and  see 
How  vast  the  difference  of  the  gods  and  thee ; 
Distance  immense!  between  the  powers  that  shine 
Above,  eternal,  deathless,  and  divine,  536 

And  mortal  man  !  a  wretch  of  humble  birth, 

A  shortlived  reptile  in  the  dust  of  earth.” 

So  spoke  the  god  who  darts  celestial  fires  ; 

He  dreads  his  fury,  and  some  steps  retires. 

m2 


540 


138 


HOMER. 


Then  Phoebus  bore  the  chief  of  Venus’  race 
To  Troy’s  high  fane,  and  to  his  holy  place  ; 

Latona  there  and  Phoebe  heal’d  the  wound, 

With  vigour  arm’d  him,  and  with  glory  crown’d. 
This  done,  the  patron  of  the  silver  bow  545 

A  phantom  raised,  the  same  in  shape  and  show 
With  great  iEneas  ;  such  the  form  he  bore, 

And  such  in  fight  the  radiant  arms  he  wore. 

Around  the  spectre  bloody  wars  are  waged, 

And  Greece  and  Troy  with  clashing  shields  engaged. 
Meantime  on  Ilion’s  tower  Apollo  stood,  551 

And,  calling  Mars,  thus  urged  the  raging  god  : 

“  Stern  power  of  arms,  by  whom  the  mighty  fall; 
Who  bathest  in  blood,  and  shakest  the  embattled 
wall, 

Rise  in  thy  wrath  ;  to  hell’s  abhorr’d  abodes  555 
Despatch  yon  Greek,  and  vindicate  the  gods. 

First  rosy  Venus  felt  his  brutal  rage  ; 

Me  next  he  charged,  and  dares  all  heaven  engage: 
The  wretch  would  brave  high  heaven’s  immortal 
sire, 

His  triple  thunder,  and  his  bolts  of  fire.”  560 

The  god  of  battle  issues  on  the  plain, 

Stirs  all  the  ranks,  and  fires  the  Trojan  train; 

In  form  like  Acamas,  the  Thracian  guide, 

Enraged,  to  Troy’s  retiring  chiefs  he  cried : 

“  How  long,  ye  sons  of  Priam,  will  ye  fly,  565 
And  unrevenged  see  Priam’s  people  die  ? 

Still  unresisted  shall  the  foe  destroy, 

And  stretch  the  slaughter  to  the  gates  of  Troy  1 
Lo  !  brave  Abieas  sinks  beneath  his  wound, 

Not  godlike  Hector  more  in  arms  renown’d  :  570 

Haste  all,  and  take  the  generous  warrior’s  part.” 

He  said:  new  courage  swell’d  each  hero’s  heart. 
Sarpedon  first  his  ardent  soul  express’d, 

And  turn’d  to  Hector,  these  bold  words  address’d  : 

“  Say,  chief,  is  all  thy  ancient  valour  lost !  575 

WThere  are  thy  threats,  and  where  thy  glorious 
boast, 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


139 


That  propp’d  alone  by  Priam’s  race  should  stand 
Troy’s  sacred  walls,  nor  need  a  foreign  hand  1 
Now,  now  thy  country  calls  her  wanted  friends, 
And  the  proud  vaunt  in  just  derision  ends:  580 

Remote  they  stand,  while  alien  troops  engage, 

Like  trembling  hounds  before  the  lion’s  rage. 

Far  distant  hence  I  held  my  wide  command, 

Where  foaming  Xanthus  laves  the  Lycian  land, 
With  ample  wealth,  the  wish  of  mortals,  bless’d,  585 
A  beauteous  wife,  and  infant  at  her  breast ; 

With  those  I  left  whatever  dear  could  be  ; 

Greece,  if  she  conquers,  nothing  wins  from  me. 

Yet  first  in  fight  my  Lycian  bands  I  cheer, 

And  long  to  meet  this  mighty  man  ye  fear;  590 
While  Hector  idle  stands,  nor  bids  the  brave 
Their  wives,  their  infants,  and  their  altars  save. 
Haste,  warrior,  haste !  preserve  thy  threaten’d 
state ; 

Or  one  vast  burst  of  all-involving  fate 
Full  o’er  your  towers  shall  fall,  and  sweep  away  595 
Sons,  sires,  and  wives,  an  undistinguish’d  prey. 
Rouse  all  thy  Trojans,  urge  thy  aids  to  fight; 

These  claim  thy  thoughts  by  day,  thy  watch  by 
night : 

With  force  incessant  the  brave  Greeks  oppose ;  599 
Such  cares  thy  friends  deserve,  and  such  thy  foes.” 

Stung  to  the  heart  the  generous  Hector  hears, 
But  just  reproof  with  decent  silence  bears. 

From  his  proud  car  the  prince  impetuous  springs 
On  earth  he  leaps ;  his  brazen  armour  rings. 

Two  shining  spears  are  brandish’d  in  his  hands ;  605 
Thus  arm’d,  he  animates  his  drooping  bands, 
Revives  their  ardour,  turns  their  steps  from  flight, 
And  wakes  anew  the  dying  flames  of  fight. 

They  turn,  they  stand,  the  Greeks  their  fury  dare, 
Condense  their  powers,  and  wait  the  growing  war. 

As  when,  on  Ceres’  sacred  floor,  the  swain  Cll 
Spreads  the  wide  fan  to  clear  the  golden  grain, 


140 


HOMER. 


And  the  light  chaff,  before  the  breezes  borne, 
Ascends  in  clouds  from  off  the  heapy  corn ; 

The  gray  dust,  rising  with  collected  winds,  615 
Drives  o’er  the  barn,  and  whitens  all  the  hinds : 

So  white  with  dust  the  Grecian  host  appears, 

From  trampling  steeds,  and  thundering  charioteers  ; 
The  dusky  clouds  from  labour’d  earth  arise, 

And  roll  in  smoking  volumes  to  the  skies.  620 
Mars  hovers  o’er  them  with  his  sable  shield, 

And  adds  new  horrors  to  the  darken’d  field : 

Pleased  with  his  charge,  and  ardent  to  fulfil, 

In  Troy’s  defence,  Apollo’s  heavenly  will : 

Soon  as  from  fight  the  blue-eyed  maid  retires,  625 
Each  Trojan  bosom  with  new  warmth  he  fires. 

And  now  the  god,  from  forth  his  sacred  fane, 
Produced  Aeneas  to  the  shouting  train; 

Alive,  unharm’d,  with  all  his  peers  around, 

Erect  he  stood,  and  vigorous  from  his  wound  :  630 
Inquiries  none  they  made  ;  the  dreadful  day 
No  pause  of  words  admits,  no  full  delay  ; 

Fierce  discord  storms,  Apollo  loud  exclaims, 

Fame  calls,  Mars  thunders,  and  the  field’s  in  flames. 

Stern  Diomed  with  either  Ajax  stood,  635 

And  great  Ulysses,  bathed  in  hostile  blood. 

Imbodied  close,  the  lab’ring  Grecian  train 
The  fiercest  shock  of  charging  hosts  sustain. 
Unmoved  and  silent,  the  whole  war  they  wait, 
Serenely  dreadful,  and  as  fix’d  as  fate.  640 

So  when  the  embattled  clouds  in  dark  array, 

Along  the  skies  their  gloomy  lines  display  : 

When  now  the  north  his  boist’rous  rage  has  spent, 
And  peaceful  sleeps  the  liquid  element ; 

The  low-hung  vapours,  motionless  and  still,  645 
Rest  on  the  summits  of  the  shaded  hill ; 

Till  the  mass  scatters  as  the  winds  arise. 

Dispersed  and  broken  through  the  ruffled  skies. 

Nor  was  the  general  wanting  to  his  train,  649 
From  troop  to  troop  he  toils  through  all  the  plain. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  V. 


141 


4  Ye  Greeks,  be  men!  the  charge  of  battle  bear; 
Your  brave  associates  and  yourselves  revere  ! 

Let  glorious  acts  more  glorious  acts  inspire, 

And  catch  from  breast  to  breast  the  noble  fire  ! 

On  valour’s  side  the  odds  of  combat  lie,  655 

The  brave  live  glorious,  or  lamented  die ; 

The  wretch  who  trembles  in  the  field  of  fame, 

Meets  death,  and  worse  than  death,  eternal  shame.” 

These  words  he  seconds  with  his  flying  lance, 

To  meet  whose  point  was  strong  Deicoon’s  chance; 
./Eneas’  friend,  and  in  his  native  place  661 

Honour’d  and  lov’d  like  Priam’s  royal  race : 

Long  had  he  fought  the  foremost  in  the  field, 

But  now  the  monarch’s  lance  transpierced  his  shield : 
His  shield  too  weak  the  furious  dart  to  stay,  665 
Through  his  broad  belt  the  weapon  forced  its  way; 
The  grisly  wound  dismiss’d  his  soul  to  hell, 

His  arms  around  him  rattled  as  he  fell. 

Then  fierce  Abieas,  brandishing  his  blade, 

In  dust  Orsilochus  and  Crethon  laid,  670 

Whose  sire  Diocleus,  wealthy,  brave,  and  great, 

In  well-built  Pherae  held  his  lofty  seat ; 

Sprung  from  Alpheus’  plenteous  stream  that  yields 
Increase  of  harvests  to  the  Pylian  fields. 

He  got  Orsilochus,  Diocleus  he,  675 

And  these  descended  in  the  third  degree. 

Too  early  expert  in  the  martial  toil, 

In  sable  ships  they  left  their  native  soil, 

T’  avenge  Atrides :  now,  untimely  slain, 

They  fell  with  glory  on  the  Phrygian  plain.  680 
So  two  young  mountain  lions,  nursed  with  blood 
In  deep  recesses  of  the  gloomy  wood, 

Rush  fearless  to  the  plains,  and  uncontroll’d 
Depopulate  the  stalls,  and  waste  the  fold ; 

Till  pierced  at  distance  from  their  native  den,  685 
O’erpower’d  they  fall  beneath  the  force  of  men. 
Prostrate  on  earth  their  beauteous  bodies  lay, 

Like  mountain  firs,  as  tall  and  straight  as  they. 


142 


HOMER. 


Great  Menelaus  views  with  pitying  eyes. 

Lifts  his  bright  lance,  and  at  the  victor  flies;  690 
Mars  urged  him  on ;  yet,  ruthless  in  his  hate, 

The  god  but  urged  him  to  provoke  his  fate. 

He  thus  advancing,  Nestor’s  valiant  son 
Shakes  for  his  danger,  and  neglects  his  own  : 

Struck  with  the  thought,  should  Helen’s  lord  be  slain, 
And  all  his  country’s  glorious  labours  vain.  696 
Already  met,  the  threatening  heroes  stand  ; 

The  spears  already  tremble  in  their  hand: 

In  rush’d  Antilochus,  his  aid  to  bring, 

And  fall  or  conquer  by  the  Spartan  king.  700 

These  seen,  the  Dardan  backwaid  turn'd  his  course, 
Brave  as  he  was,andshunn’d  unequal  force. 

The  breathless  bodies  to  the  Greeks  they  drew, 
Then  mix  in  combat,  and  their  toils  renew. 

First,  Pylaemenes,  great  in  battle,  bled,  705 

Who  sheath’d  in  brass  the  Paphlagonians  led. 

Atrides  mark’d  him  where  sublime  he  stood  ; 

Fix’d  in  his  throat,  the  javelin  drank  his  blood. 

The  faithful  Mydon,  as  he  turn'd  from  fight 

His  flying  coursers,  sunk  to  endless  night:  710 

A  broken  rock  by  Nestor’s  son  was  thrown ; 

His  bended  arm  received  the  falling  stone, 

From  his  numb’d  hand  the  ivory-studded  reins, 
Dropp’d  in  the  dust,  are  trail’d  along  the  plains : 
Meanwhile  his  temples  feel  a  deadly  wound  ;  715 

He  groans  in  death,  and  pond’rous  sinks  to  ground ; 
Deep  drove  his  helmet  in  the  sands,  and  there 
The  head  stood  fix’d,  the  quiv’ring  legs  in  air, 

Till  trampled  flat  beneath  the  coursers’  feet : 

The  youthful  victor  mounts  the  empty  seat,  720 
And  bears  the  prize  in  triumph  to  the  fleet. 

Great  Hector  saw,  and  raging  at  the  view, 

Pours  on  the  Greeks ;  the  Trojan  troops  pursue  : 

He  fires  his  host  with  animating  cries, 

And  brings  along  the  furies  of  the  skies.  725 

Mars,  stem  destroyer  !  and  Bellona  dread, 

Flame  in  the  front,  and  thunder  at  their  head  : 


ILIAD. — BOOK  V. 


143 


This  swells  the  tumult  and  the  rage  of  fight; 

That  shakes  a  spear  that  casts  a  dreadful  light. 
Where  Hector  march’d  the  god  of  battle  shined,  730 
Now  storm’d  before  him,  and  now  raged  behind. 

Tydides  paused  amid  his  full  career; 

Then  first  the  hero’s  manly  breast  knew  fear. 

As  when  some  simple  swain  his  cot  forsakes, 

And  wide  through  fens  an  unknown  journey  takes  ; 
If  chance  a  swelling  brook  his  passage  stay,  736 
And  foam  impervious  cross  the  wanderer’s  way, 
Confused  he  stops,  a  length  of  country  pass’d, 

Eyes  the  rough  waves,  and,  tired,  returns  at  last; 
Amazed  no  less  the  great  Tydides  stands ;  740 

He  stay’d,  and,  turning,  thus  address’d  his  bands: 

“  No  wonder,  Greeks,  that  all  to  Hector  yield  : 
Secure  of  fav’ring  gods,  he  takes  the  field  : 

His  strokes  they  second,  and  avert  our  spears  : 
Behold  where  Mars  in  mortal  arms  appears  !  745 

Retire  then,  warriors,  but  sedate  and  slow  ; 

Retire,  but  with  your  faces  to  the  foe. 

Trust  not  too  much  your  unavailing  might; 

’Tis  not  with  Troy,  but  with  the  gods,  ye  fight.” 

Now  near  the  Greeks  the  black  battalions  drew; 
And  first  two  leaders  valiant  Hector  slew  :  751 

His  force  Anchialus  and  Mnesthes  found, 

In  every  art  of  glorious  war  renown’d ; 

In  the  same  car  the  chiefs  to  combat  ride, 

And  fought  united,  and  united  died.  755 

Struck  at  the  sight,  the  mighty  Ajax  glows 
With  thirst  of  vengeance,  and  assaults  the  foes. 

His  massy  spear  with  matchless  fury  sent, 

Through  Amphius’  belt  and  heaving  belly  went : 
Amphius  Apaesus’  happy  soil  possess’d,  760 

With  herds  abounding,  and  with  treasure  bless’d  ; 

But  fate  resistless  from  his  country  led 
The  chief,  to  perish  at  his  people’s  head. 

Shook  with  his  fall,  his  brazen  armour  rung ; 

And  fierce,  to  seize  it,  conquering  Ajax  sprung :  765 


144 


HOMER. 


Around  his  head  an  iron  tempest  rain’d  ; 

A  wood  of  spears  his  ample  shield  sustain’d: 
Beneath  one  foot  the  yet  warm  corse  he  press’d, 
And  drew  his  javelin  from  the  bleeding  breast : 

He  could  no  more  ;  the  showering  darts  denied  770 
To  spoil  his  glittering  arms  and  plumy  pride. 

Now  foes  on  foes  came  pouring  on  the  fields, 

With  bristling  lances,  and  compacted  shields  ; 

Till,  in  the  steely  circle  straiten’d  round, 

Forced  he  gives  way,  and  sternly  quits  the  ground. 

While  thus  they  strive,  Tlepolemus  the  great,  776 
Urged  by  the  force  of  unresisted  fate, 

Burns  with  desire  Sarpedon’s  strength  to  prove  ; 
Alcides’  offspring  meets  the  son  of  Jove. 

Sheath’d  in  bright  arms  each  adverse  chief  came  on, 
Jove’s  great  descendant,  and  his  greater  son.  781 
Prepared  for  combat,  ere  the  lance  he  toss’d, 

The  daring  Rhodian  vents  his  haughty  boast : 

“What  brings  this  Lycian  counsellor  so  far, 

To  tremble  at  our  arms,  not  mix  in  war?  785 

Know  thy  vain  self;  nor  let  their  flattery  move 
Who  style  thee  son  of  cloud-compelling  Jove. 

How  far  unlike  those  chiefs  of  race  divine  ! 

How  vast  the  difference  of  their  deeds  and  thine! 
Jove  got  such  heroes  as  my  sire,  whose  soul  790 
No  fear  could  daunt,  nor  earth  nor  hell  control : 

Troy  felt  his  arm,  and  yon  proud  ramparts  stand 
Raised  on  the  ruins  of  his  vengeful  hand  : 

With  six  small  ships,  and  but  a  slender  train, 

He  left  the  town  a  wide  deserted  plain.  795 

But  what  art  thou,  who  deedless  look’st  around, 
While  unrevenged  the  Lycians  bite  the  ground  ? 
Small  aid  to  Troy  thy  feeble  force  can  be  ; 

But  wert  thou  greater,  thou  must  yield  to  me. 
Pierced  by  my  spear  to  endless  darkness  go !  800 

I  make  this  present  to  the  shades  below.” 

The  son  of  Hercules,  the  Rhodian  guide, 

Thus  haughty  spoke.  The  Lycian  king  replied ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


145 


“  Thy  sire,  oh  prince  !  o’erturn’d  the  Trojan  state, 
Whose  perjured  monarch  well  deserved  his  fate  ;  805 
Those  heavenly  steeds  the  hero  sought  so  far, 

False  he  detain’d  the  just  reward  of  war. 

Nor  so  content,  the  gen’rous  chief  defied, 

WTith  base  reproaches  and  unmanly  pride. 

But  you,  unworthy  the  high  race  you  boast,  810 
Shall  raise  my  glory  when  thy  own  is  lost : 

Now  meet  thy  fate,  and  by  Sarpedon  slain, 

Add  one  more  ghost  to  Pluto’s  gloomy  reign.” 

He  said  :  both  javelins  at  an  instant  flew ; 

Both  struck,  both  wounded  ;  but  Sarpedon’s  slew : 
Full  in  the  boaster’s  neck  the  weapon  stood,  816 
Transfix’d  his  throat,  and  drank  the  vital  blood ; 

The  soul  disdainful  seeks  the  caves  of  night, 

And  his  seal’d  eyes  for  ever  lose  the  light. 

Yet  not  in  vain,  Tlepolemus,  was  thrown  820 
Thy  angry  lance ;  which,  piercing  to  the  bone 
Sarpedon’s  thigh,  had  robb’d  the  chief  of  breath ; 

But  Jove  was  present,  and  forbade  the  death. 

Borne  from  the  conflict  by  his  Lycian  throng, 

The  wounded  hero  dragg’d  the  lance  along :  825 

(His  friends,  each  busied  in  his  several  part, 
Through  haste,  or  danger,  had  not  drawn  the  dart.) 
The  Greeks  with  slain  Tlepolemus  retired ; 

Whose  fall  Ulysses  view’d,  with  fury  fired  ; 
Doubtful  if  Jove’s  great  son  he  should  pursue,  830 
Or  pour  his  vengeance  on  the  Lycian  crew. 

But  Heaven  and  fate  the  first  design  withstand, 

Nor  this  great  death  must  grace  Ulysses’  hand. 
Minerva  drives  him  on  the  Lycian  train ; 

Alastor,  Cromius,  Halius,  strew’d  the  plain :  835 

Meander,  Prytanis,  Noemon,  fell ; 

A.nd  numbers  more  his  sword  had  sent  to  hell ; 

But  Hector  saw,  and,  furious  at  the  sight, 

Rush’d  terrible  amid  the  ranks  of  fight. 

With  joy  Sarpedon  view’d  the  wish’d  relief,  840 
And,  faint,  lamenting,  thus  implored  the  chief : 
hom. — i. — n 


146 


HOMER. 


“  Oh,  suffer  not  the  foe  to  bear  away 
My  helpless  corpse,  an  unassisted  prey  ! 

If  I,  unbless’d,  must  see  my  son  no  more, 

My  much-loved  consort,  and  my  native  shore,  845 
Yet  let  me  die  in  Ilion’s  sacred  wall; 

Troy,  in  whose  cause  I  fell,  shall  mourn  my  fall.” 

He  said ;  nor  Hector  to  the  chief  replies, 

But  shakes  his  plume,  and  fierce  to  combat  flies  ; 
Swift  as  a  whirlwind,  drives  the  scattering  foes,  850 
And  dies  the  ground  with  purple  as  he  goes. 

Beneath  a  beech,  Jove’s  consecrated  shade, 

His  mournful  friends  divine  Sarpedon  laid : 

Brave  Pelagon  his  fav’rite  chief  was  nigh, 

Who  wrench’d  the  javelin  from  his  sinewy  thigh. 
The  fainting  soul  stood  ready  wing’d  for  flight,  856 
And  o’er  his  eyeballs  swam  the  shades  of  night ; 

But  Boreas  rising  fresh,  with  gentle  breath, 

Recall’d  his  spirit  from  the  gates  of  death. 

The  generous  Greeks  recede  with  tardy  pace,  860 
Though  Mars  and  Hector  thunder  in  their  face  : 
None  turn  their  backs  to  mean  ignoble  flight, 

Slow  they  retreat,  and  ev’n  retreating  fight. 

Who  first,  whodast,  by  Mars’  and  Hector’s  hand, 
Stretch’d  in  their  blood,  lay  gasping  on  the  sand? 
Teuthras  the  great,  Orestes  the  renown’d  866 
For  managed  steeds,  and  Trechus  press’d  the  ground  ; 
Next  CEnomaus,  and  CEnops’  offspring  died ; 
Oresbius  last  fell  groaning  at  their  side  : 

Oresbius  in  his  painted  mitre  gay,  870 

In  fat  Bceotia  held  his  wealthy  sway, 

Where  lakes  surround  low  Hyle’s  watery  plain, 

A  prince  and  people  studious  of  their  gain. 

The  carnage  Juno  from  the  skies  survey’d,  874 
And,  touch’d  with  grief,  bespoke  the  blue-eyed  maid  : 
“  Oh,  sight  accursed !  shall  faithless  Troy  prevail, 
And  shall  our  promise  to  our  people  fail  ? 

How  vain  the  word  to  Menelaus  given, 

By  Jove’s  great  daughter  and  the  queen  of  heaven, 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V.  147 

Beneath  his  arms  that  Priam’s  towers  should  fall;  880 
If  warring  gods  for  ever  guard  the  wall ! 

Mars,  red  with  slaughter,  aids  our  hated  foes  : 
Haste,  let  us  arm,  and  force  with  force  oppose.” 

She  spoke  ;  Minerva  burns  to  meet  the  war : 

And  now  heaven’s  empress  calls  her  blazing  car.  885 
At  her  command  rush  forth  the  steeds  divine  ; 

Rich  with  immortal  gold  their  trappings  shine. 
Bright  Hebe  waits ;  by  Hebe,  ever  young, 

The  whirling  wheels  are  to  the  chariot  hung. 

On  the  bright  axle  turns  the  bidden  wheel  890 
Of  sounding  brass ;  the  polish’d  axle  steel. 

Eight  brazen  spokes  in  radiant  order  flame  ; 

The  circles  gold,  of  uncorrupted  frame, 

Such  as  the  heavens  produce ;  and  round  the  gold 
Two  brazen  rings  of  work  divine  were  roll’d.  895 
The  bossy  naves  of  solid  silver  shone ; 

Braces  of  gold  suspend  the  moving  throne : 

The  car  behind  an  arching  figure  bore ; 

The  bending  concave  form’d  an  arch  before ; 

Silver  the  beam,  the  extended  yoke  was  gold,  900 
And  golden  reins  the  immortal  coursers  hold. 
Herself,  impatient,  to  the  ready  car 
The  coursers  joins,  and  breathes  revenge  and  war. 

Pallas  disrobes  ;  her  radiant  veil  untied, 

With  flowers  adorn’d,  with  art  diversified,  905 
(The  labour’d  veil  her  heavenly  fingers  wove,) 
Flows  on  the  pavement  of  the  court  of  Jove. 

Now  heaven’s  dread  arms  her  mighty  limbs  invest, 
Jove’s  cuirass  blazes  on  her  ample  breast; 

Deck’d  in  sad  triumph  for  the  mournful  field,  910 
O’er  her  broad  shoulders  hangs  his  horrid  shield, 
Dire,  black,  tremendous !  Round  the  margin  roll’d, 
A  fringe  of  serpents  hissing  guards  the  gold : 

Here  all  the  terrors  of  grim  war  appear,  914 

Here  rages  Force,  here  trembling  Flight  and  Fear, 
Here  storm’d  Contention,  and  here  Fury  frown’d, 
And  the  dire  orb  portentous  Gorgon  crown’d. 


14S 


HOMER. 


The  massy  golden  helm  she  next  assumes, 

That  dreadful  nods  with  four  o’ershading  plumes, 

So  vast,  the  broad  circumference  contains  920 
A  hundred  armies  on  a  hundred  plains. 

The  goddess  thus  the  imperial  car  ascends, 

Shook  by  her  arm  her  mighty  javelin  bends, 
Ponderous  and  huge  ;  that,  when  her  fury  burns, 
Proud  tyrants  humbles,  and  whole  hosts  o’erturns. 

Swift  at  the  scourge,  the  ethereal  coursers  fly,  926 
While  the  smooth  chariot  cuts  the  liquid  sky. 
Heaven’s  gates  spontaneous  open  to  the  powers, 
Heaven’s  golden  gates,  kept  by  the  winged  Hours ; 
Commission’d  in  alternate  watch  they  stand,  930 
The  sun’s  bright  portals  and  the  skies  command, 
Involve  in  clouds  the  eternal  gates  of  day, 

Or  the  dark  barrier  roll  with  ease  away. 

The  sounding  hinges  ring :  on  either  side 
The  gloomy  volumes,  pierced  with  light,  divide.  935 
The  chariot  mounts,  where  deep  in  ambient  skies, 
Confused,  Olympus’  hundred  heads  arise  ; 

Where  far  apart  the  Thunderer  fills  his  throne ; 

O’er  all  the  gods  superior  and  alone. 

There  with  her  snowy  hand  the  queen  restrains  940 
The  fiery  steeds,  and  thus  to  Jove  complains : 

“  Oh  sire !  can  no  resentment  touch  thy  soul  1 
Can  Mars  rebel,  and  does  no  thunder  roll  1 
What  lawless  rage  on  yon  forbidden  plain ! 

What  rash  destruction  !  and  what  heroes  slain !  945 
Venus,  and  Phcsbus  with  the  dreadful  bow, 

Smile  on  the  slaughter,  and  enjoy  my  wo. 

Mad,  furious  power !  whose  unrelenting  mind 
No  god  can  govern,  and  no  justice  bind. 

Say,  mighty  father !  shall  we  scourge  his  pride,  950 
And  drive  from  fight  the  impetuous  homicide  ?” 

To  whom  assenting,  thus  the  Thunderer  said : 

“  Go  !  and  the  great  Minerva  be  thy  aid ; 

To  tame  the  monster  god  Minerva  knows, 

And  oft  afflicts  his  brutal  breast  with  woes.”  955 


ILIAD. - BOOK  V. 


149 


He  said :  Saturnia,  ardent  to  obey, 

Lash’d  her  white  steeds  along  the  aerial  way. 

Swift  down  the  steep  of  heaven  the  chariot  rolls, 
Between  the  expanded  earth,  and  starry  poles. 

Far  as  a  shepherd,  from  some  point  on  high,  960 
O’er  the  wide  main  extends  his  boundless  eye ; 
Through  such  a  space  of  air,  with  thund’ring  sound, 
At  every  leap,  the  immortal  coursers  bound  : 

Troy  now  they  reach’d,  and  touch'd  those  banks  di¬ 
vine 

Where  silver  Simois  and  Scamander  join.  965 

There  Juno  stopp’d,  and  her  fair  steeds  unloosed, 

Of  air  condensed  a  vapour  circumfused: 

For  these,  impregnate  with  celestial  dew, 

On  Simois’  brink  ambrosial  herbage  grew. 

Thence  to  relieve  the  fainting  Argive  throng,  970 
Smooth  as  the  sailing  doves,  they  glide  along. 

The  best  and  bravest  of  the  Grecian  band, 

A  warlike  circle,  round  Tydides  stand  ; 

Such  was  their  look  as  lions  bathed  in  blood, 

Or  foaming  boars  the  terror  of  the  wood.  975 

Heaven’s  empress  mingles  with  the  mortal  crowd* 
And  shouts,  in  Stentor’s  sounding  voice,  aloud  f 
Stentor  the  strong,  endued  with  brazen  lungs. 
Whose  throat  surpass’d  the  force  of  fifty  tongues  : 

“  Inglorious  Argives !  to  your  race  a  shame,  980* 
And  only  men  in  figure  and  in  name  ! 

Once  from  the  walls  your  timorous  foes  engaged, 
While  fierce  in  war  divine  Achilles  raged ; 

Now  issuing  fearless  they  possess  the  plain,  984 
Now  win  the  shores,  and  scarce  the  seas  remain.” 

Her  speech  new  fury  to  their  hearts  convey’d  ; 
While  near  Tydides  stood  the  Athenian  maid; 

The  king  beside  his  panting  steed  she  found, 
O'eispent  with  toil,  reposing  on  the  ground : 

To  cool  his  glowing  wound  he  sat  apart ;  990 

(The  wound  inflicted  by  the  Lycian  dart ;) 

Large  drops  of  sweat  from  all  his  limbs  descend, 
Beneath  his  ponderous  shield  his  sinews  bend, 

n2 


150 


HOMER. 


Whose  ample  belt,  that  o’er  his  shoulder  lay, 

He  eased,  and  wash’d  the  clotted  gore  away.  995 
The  goddess  leaning  o’er  the  bending  yoke, 

Beside  his  coursers,  thus  her  silence  broke  : 

“  Degenerate  prince  !  and  not  of  Tydeus’  kind, 
Whose  little  body  lodged  a  mighty  mind ; 

Foremost  he  press’d  in  glorious  toils  to  share,  1000 
And  scarce  refrain’d  when  I  forbade  the  war. 

Alone,  unguarded,  once  he  dared  to  go 
And  feast,  encircled  by  the  Theban  foe  ; 

There  braved,  and  vanquish’d  many  a  hardy  knight ; 
Such  nerves  I  gave  him,  and  such  force  in  fight. 
Thou  too  no  less  hast  been  my  constant  care  ;  100G 
Thy  hands  I  arm’d,  and  sent  thee  forth  to  war  : 

But  thee,  or  fear  deters  or  sloth  detains  ; 

No  drop  of  all  thy  father  warms  thy  veins.” 

The  chief  thus  answer’d  mild  :  “  Immortal  maid ! 
I  own  thy  presence,  and  confess  thy  aid.  1011 
Not  fear,  thou  know’st,  withholds  me  from  the  plains, 
Nor  sloth  had  seized  me,  but  thy  word  restrains : 
From  warring  gods  thou  badest  me  turn  my  spear, 
And  Venus  only  found  resistance  here.  1015 

Hence,  goddess !  heedful  of  thy  high  commands, 
Loath  I  gave  way,  and  warn’d  our  Argive  bands : 
For  Mars,  the  homicide,  these  eyes  beheld, 

With  slaughter  red,  and  raging  round  the  field.” 

Then  thus  Minerva  :  “  Brave  Tydides,  hear !  1020 
Not  Mars  himself,  nor  aught  immortal  fear. 

Full  on  the  god  impel  thy  foaming  horse  : 

Pallas  commands,  and  Pallas  lends  thee  force. 

Rash,  furious,  blind,  from  these  to  those  he  flies, 
And  every  side  of  wavering  combat  tries;  1025 
Large  promise  makes,  and  breaks  the  promise  made; 
Now  gives  the  Grecians,  now  the  Trojans  aid.” 

She  said ;  and  to  the  steeds  approaching  near, 
Drew  from  his  seat  the  martial  charioteer. 

The  vigorous  power  the  trembling  car  ascends,  1030 
Fierce  for  revenge ;  and  Diomed  attends. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  V. 


151 


The  groaning  axle  bent  beneath  the  load ; 

So  great  a  hero,  and  so  great  a  god. 

She  snatch’d  the  reins,  she  lash’d  with  all  her  force, 
And  full  on  Mars  impell’d  the  foaming  horse  :  1035 

But  first  to  hide  her  heavenly  visage  spread 
Black  Orcus’  helmet  o’er  her  radiant  head. 

Just  then  gigantic  Periphas  lay  slain, 

The  strongest  warrior  of  the  iEtolian  train ; 

The  god,  who  slew  him,  leaves  his  prostrate  prize 
Stretch’d  where  he  fell,  and  at  Tydides  flies.  1041 
Now,  rushing  fierce,  in  equal  arms  appear 
The  daring  Greek,  the  dreadful  god  of  war  ! 

Full  at  the  chief,  above  his  courser’s  head, 

From  Mars’s  arm  the  enormous  weapon  fled :  1045 

Pallas  opposed  her  hand,  and  caused  to  glance 
Far  from  the  car  the  strong  immortal  lance. 

Then  threw  the  force  of  Tydeus’  warlike  son ; 

The  javelin  hiss’d  ;  the  goddess  urged  it  on :  1049 

Where  the  broad  cincture  girt  his  armour  round 
It  pierced  the  god ;  his  groin  received  the  wound. 
From  the  rent  skin  the  warrior  tugs  again 
The  smoking  steel.  Mars  bellows  with  the  pain : 
Loud  as  the  roar  encountering  armies  yield, 

When  shouting  millions  shake  the  thundering  field. 
Both  armies  start,  and  trembling  gaze  around,  1056 
And  earth  and  heaven  rebellow  to  the  sound. 

As  vapours  blown  by  Auster’s  sultry  breath, 
Pregnant  with  plagues,  and  shedding  seeds  of  death, 
Beneath  the  rage  of  burning  Sirius  rise,  1060 

Choke  the  parch’d  earth,  and  blacken  all  the  skies  ; 
In  such  a  cloud  the  god  from  combat  driven, 

High  o’er  the  dusty  whirlwind  scales  the  heaven. 
Wild  with  his  pain,  he  sought  the  bright  abodes, 
There  sullen  sat  beneath  the  sire  of  gods,  1065 
Show’d  the  celestial  blood,  and  with  a  groan 
Thus  pour’d  his  plaints  before  the  immortal  throne : 

“  Can  Jove,  supine,  flagitious  facts  survey, 

And  brook  the  furies  of  this  daring  day  1 


152 


HOMER. 


For  mortal  men  celestial  powers  engage,  1070 
And  gods  on  gods  exert  eternal  rage. 

From  thee,  oh  father !  all  these  ills  we  bear, 

And  thy  fell  daughter  with  the  shield  and  spear : 
Thou  gavest  that  fury  to  the  realms  of  light, 
Pernicious,  wild,  regardless  of  the  right.  1075 

All  heaven  beside  reveres  thy  sovereign  sway, 

Thy  voice  we  hear,  and  thy  behests  obey  : 

’Tis  hers  to  offend,  and  ev’n  offending  share 
Thy  breast,  thy  counsels,  thy  distinguish’d  care  : 

So  boundless  she,  and  thou  so  partial  grown,  1080 
Well  may  we  deem  the  wondrous  birth  thy  own. 
Now  frantic  Diomed,  at  her  command, 

Against  the  immortals  lifts  his  raging  hand: 

The  heavenly  Venus  first  his  fury  found, 

Me  next  encountering,  me  he  dared  to  wound  ;  1085 
Vanquish’d  I  fled  :  ev’n  I,  the  god  of  fight, 

From  mortal  madness  scarce  was  saved  by  flight. 
Else  hadst  thou  seen  me  sink  on  yonder  plain, 
Heap’d  round,  and  heaving  under  loads  of  slain  ! 

Or,  pierced  with  Grecian  darts,  for  ages  lie,  1090 
Condemn’d  to  pain,  though  fated  not  to  die.” 

Him  thus  upbraiding,  with  a  wrathful  look 
The  lord  of  thunders  view’d,  and  stern  bespoke ; 
“To  me,  perfidious  !  this  lamenting  strain  ! 

Of  lawless  force  shall  lawless  Mars  complain  1  1095 
Of  all  the  gods  who  tread  the  spangled  skies, 

Thou  most  unjust,  most  odious  in  our  eyes  ! 
Inhuman  discord  is  thy  dire  delight, 

The  waste  of  slaughter,  and  the  rage  of  fight. 

No  bound,  no  law,  thy  fiery  temper  quells,  1100 

And  all  thy  mother  in  thy  soul  rebels. 

In  vain  our  threats,  in  vain  our  power  we  use  ; 

She  gives  the  example,  and  her  son  pursues. 

Yet  long  the  inflicted  pangs  thou  shalt  not  mourn, 
Sprung  since  thou  art  from  Jove,  and  heavenly  born ; 
Else,  singed  with  lightning  hadst  thou  hence  been 
thrown,  1100 

Where  chain’d  on  burning  rocks  the  Titans  groan.” 


I 


ILIAD. — BOOK  V. 


153 


Thus  he  who  shakes  Olympus  with  his  nod ; 

Then  gave  to  Paeon’s  care  the  bleeding  god. 

With  gentle  hand  the  balm  he  pour’d  around,  1110 
And  heal’d  the  immortal  flesh,  and  closed  the  wound. 
As  when  the  fig’s  press’d  juice,  infused  in  cream, 

To  curds  coagulates  the  liquid  stream, 

Sudden  the  fluids  fix,  the  parts  combined ; 

Such,  and  so  soon,  the  ethereal  texture  join’d.  1115 
Cleansed  from  the  dust  and  gore,  fair  Hebe  dress’d 
His  mighty  limbs  in  an  immortal  vest. 

Glorious  he  sat,  in  majesty  restored, 

Fast  by  the  throne  of  heaven’s  superior  lord. 

Juno  and  Pallas  mount  the  bless’d  abodes,  1120 
Their  task  perform’d,  and  mix  among  the  gods. 


BOOK  VI. 

ARGUMENT. 

The  Episodes  of  Glaucus  and  Diomed,  and  of  Hector  and  Andro¬ 
mache. 

The  gods  having  left  the  field,  the  Grecians  prevail— Helenus, 
the  chief  augur  of  Troy,  commands  Hector  to  return  to  the 
city,  in  order  to  appoint  a  solemn  procession  of  the  queen  and 
the  Trojan  matrons  to  the  temple  of  Minerva,  to  entreat  her 
to  remove  Diomed  from  the  fight — The  battle  relaxes  during 
the  absence  of  Hector — Glaucus  and  Diomed  have  an  inter¬ 
view  between  the  two  armies  ;  where,  coming  to  the  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  friendship  and  hospitality  passed  between  their 
ancestors,  they  make  exchange  of  their  arms — Hector,  having 
performed  the  orders  of  Helenus,  prevails  on  Paris  to  return 
to  the  battle  ;  and  taking  a  tender  leave  of  his  wife  Androm¬ 
ache,  hastens  again  to  the  field. — [The  scene  is  first  in  the 
field  of  battle,  between  the  river  Simois  and  Scamander,  and 
then  changes  to  Troy.] 


Now  Heaven  forsakes  the  fight,  the  immortals 
yield, 

To  human  force  and  human  skill,  the  field : 

Dark  showers  of  javelins  fly  from  foes  to  foes : 

Now  here,  now  there,  the  tide  of  combat  flows; 
While  Troy’s  famed  streams  that  bound  the  dreadful 
plain,  5 

On  either  side  run  purple  to  the  main. 

Great  Ajax  first  to  conquest  led  the  way, 

Broke  the  thick  ranks,  and  turn’d  the  doubtful  day. 
The  Thracian  Acamas  his  falchion  found, 

And  hew’d  the  enormous  giant  to  the  ground :  10 


5  Scamander  and  Simois, 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VI. 


]  55 


His  thundering  arm  a  deadly  stroke  impress’d 
Where  the  black  horse-hair  nodded  o’er  his  crest : 
Fix’d  in  his  front  the  brazen  weapon  lies, 

And  seals  in  endless  shades  his  swimrrAng  eyes. 
Next  Teuthras’  son  distain’d  the  sands  with  blood, 
Axylus,  hospitable,  rich,  and  good  :  16 

In  fair  Arisba’s  walls,  his  native  place, 

He  held  his  seat :  a  friend  to  human  race, 

Fast  by  the  road,  his  ever-open  door 

Obliged  the  wealthy,  and  relieved  the  poor.  20 

To  stern  Tydides  now  he  falls  a  prey, 

No  friend  to  guard  him  in  the  dreadful  day ! 
Breathless  the  good  man  fell,  and  by  his  side 
His  faithful  servant,  old  Calesius,  died. 

By  great  Euryalus  was  Dresus  slain,  25 

And  next  he  laid  Opheltius  on  the  plain. 

Two  twins  were  near,  bold,  beautiful,  and  young, 
From  a  fair  naiad  and  Bucolion  sprung. 

(Laomedon’s  white  flocks  Bucolion  fed, 

That  monarch’s  firstborn  by  a  foreign  bed  ;  30 

In  secret  woods  he  won  the  naiad’s  grace, 

And  two  fair  infants  crown’d  his  strong  embrace.) 
Here  dead  they  lay  in  all  their  youthful  charms ; 

The  ruthless  victor  stripp’d  their  shining  arms. 

Astyalus  by  Polypoetus  fell ;  35 

Ulysses’  spear  Pidytes  sent  to  hell ; 

By  Teucer’s  shaft  brave  Aretaon  bled, 

And  Nestor’s  son  laid  stern  Ablerus  dead ; 

Great  Agamemnon,  leader  of  the  brave, 

The  mortal  wound  of  rich  Elatus  gave,  40 

Who  held  in  Pedasus  his  proud  abode, 

And  till’d  the  banks  where  silver  Satnio  flow’d. 
Melanthius  by  Eurypylus  was  slain; 

And  Phylacus  from  Leitus  flies  in  vain. 

Unbless’d  Adrastus  next  at  mercy  lies  45 

Beneath  the  Spartan  spear  a  living  prize. 

Scared  with  the  din  and  tumult  of  the  fight, 

His  headlong  steeds,  precipitate  in  flight. 


156 


HOMER. 


Rush’d  on  a  tamarisk’s  strong  trunk,  and  broke 
The  shatter’d  chariot  from  the  crooked  yoke  ;  50 

Wide  o’er  the  field,  resistless  as  the  wind, 

For  Troy  they  fly,  and  leave  their  lord  behind. 
Prone  on  his  face  he  sinks  beside  the  wheel ; 

Atrides  o’er  him  shakes  his  vengeful  steel ; 

The  fallen  chief  in  suppliant  posture  press’d  55 
The  victor’s  knees,  and  thus  his  pray’r  address’d  : 

“  Oh,  spare  my  youth !  and  for  the  life  I  owe 
Large  gifts  of  price  my  father  shall  bestow. 

When  fame  shall  tell,  that,  not  in  battle  slain, 

Thy  hollow  ships  his  captive  son  detain  :  60 

Rich  heaps  of  brass  shall  in  thy  tent  be  told, 

And  steel  well  temper’d,  and  persuasive  gold.” 

He  said :  compassion  touch’d  the  hero’s  heart ; 

He  stood,  suspended,  with  the  lifted  dart : 

As  pity  pleaded  for  his  vanquish’d  prize,  65 

Stern  Agamemnon  swift  to  vengeance  flies, 

And  furious  thus  :  “  Oh,  impotent  of  mind ! 

Shall  these,  shall  these  Atrides’  mercy  find  ? 

Well  hast  thou  known  proud  Troy’s  perfidious  land, 
And  well  her  natives  merit  at  thy  hand  !  70 

Not  one  of  all  the  race,  nor  sex,  nor  age, 

Shall  save  a  Trojan  from  our  boundless  rage  : 

Ilion  shall  perish  whole,  and  bury  all ; 

Her  babes,  her  infants  at  the  breast,  shall  fall ; 

A  dreadful  lesson  of  exampled  fate,  75 

To  warn  the  nations,  and  to  curb  the  great !” 

The  monarch  spoke  ;  the  words  with  warmth  ad¬ 
dress’d 

To  rigid  justice  steel’d  his  brother’s  breast. 

Fierce  from  his  knees  the  hapless  chief  he  thrust : 
The  monarch’s  javelin  stretch’d  him  in  the  dust.  80 
Then  pressing  with  his  foot  his  panting  heart, 

Forth  from  the  slain  he  tugg’d  the  reeking  dart. 

Old  Nestor  saw,  and  roused  the  warrior’s  rage : 

“  Thus,  heroes  !  thus  the  vig’rous  combat  wage ! 

No  son  of  Mars  descend,  for  servile  gains,  85 

To  touch  the  booty,  while  a  foe  remains. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VI. 


157 


Behold  yon  glitt’ring  host,  your  future  spoil ! 

First  gain  the  conquest,  then  reward  the  toil.” 

And  now  had  Greece  eternal  fame  acquired, 

And  frighten’d  Troy  within  her  walls  retired,  90 
Had  not  sage  Helenus  her  state  redress’d, 

Taught  by  the  gods  that  moved  his  sacred  breast. 
Where  Hector  stood,  with  great  Aeneas  join’d, - 
The  seer  reveal’d  the  counsels  of  his  mind : 

“Ye  generous  chiefs !  on  whom  the  immortals 
lay  95 

The  cares  and  glories  of  this  doubtful  day  ; 

On  whom  your  aids,  your  country’s  hopes  depend  ; 
Wise  to  consult,  and  active  to  defend  ! 

Here,  at  our  gates,  your  brave  efforts  unite, 

Turn  back  the  routed,  and  forbid  the  flight ;  100 

Ere  yet  their  wives’  soft  arms  the  cowards  gain, 
The  sport  and  insult  of  the, hostile  train. 

When  your  commands  have  hearten’d  every  band, 
Ourselves,  here  fix’d,  will  make  the  dangerous 
stand ; 

Press’d  as  we  are,  and  sore  of  former  fight,  105 
These  straits  demand  our  last  remains  of  might. 
Meanwhile,  thou,  Hector,  to  the  town  retire, 

And  teach  our  mother  what  the  gods  require : 

Direct  the  queen  to  lead  the  assembled  train 
Of  Troy’s  chief  matrons  to  Minerva’s  fane;  110 
Unbar  the  sacred  gates,  and  seek  the  power 
With  offer’d  vows,  in  Ilion’s  topmost  tower. 

The  largest  mantle  her  rich  wardrobes  hold, 

Most  prized  for  art,  and  labour’d  o’er  with  gold, 
Before  the  goddess’  honour’d  knees  be  spread;  115 
And  twelve  young  heifers  to  her  altars  led : 

If  so  the  power,  atoned  by  fervent  prayer, 

Our  wives,  our  infants,  and  our  city  spare, 

And  far  avert  Tydides’  wasteful  ire, 

That  mows  whole  troops,  and  makes  all  Troy 
retire.  120 

Not  thus  Achilles  taught  our  hosts  to  dread, 

Sprung  though  he  was  from  more  than  mortal  bed ; 
hom. — i. — o 


158 


HOMER. 


Not  thus  resistless  ruled  the  stream  of  fight, 

In  rage  unbounded,  and  unmatch’d  in  might.” 

Hector  obedient  heard;  and,  with  a  bound,  125 
Leap’d  from  his  trembling  chariot  to  the  ground; 
Through  all  his  host,  inspiring  force,  he  flies, 

And  bids  the  thunder  of  the  battle  rise. 

With  rage  recruited  the  bold  Trojans  glow, 

And  turn  the  tide  of  conflict  on  the  foe  :  130 

Fierce  in  the  front  he  shakes  two  dazzling  spears  : 
All  Greece  recedes,  and  midst  her  triumphs  fears : 
Some  god,  they  thought,  who  ruled  the  fate  ol 
wars, 

Shot  down  avenging  from  the  vault  of  stars. 

Then  thus,  aloud  :  “  Ye  dauntless  Dardans,  hear, 
And  you,  whom  distant  nations  send  to  war !  136 

Be  mindful  of  the  strength  your  fathers  bore ; 

Be  still  yourselves,  and  Hector  asks  no  more. 

One  hour  demands  me  in  the  Trojan  wall, 

To  bid  our  altars  flame,  and  victims  fall :  140 

Nor  shall,  I  trust,  the  matrons’  holy  train, 

And  reverend  elders,  seek  the  gods  in  vain.” 

This  said,  with  ample  strides  the  hero  pass’d ; 

The  shield’s  large  orb  behind  his  shoulder  cast, 

His  neck  o’ershading,  to  his  ankle  hung ;  145 

And,  as  he  march’d,  the  brazen  buckler  rung. 

Now  paused  the  battle  (godlike  Hector  gone) 
When  daring  Glaucus  and  great  Tydeus’  son 
Between  both  armies  met ;  the  chiefs  from  far 
Observed  each  other,  and  had  mark’d  for  war.  150 
Near  as  they  drew,  Tydides  thus  began : 

“  What  art  thou,  boldest  of  the  race  of  man? 

Our  eyes,  till  now,  that  aspect  ne’er  beheld, 

Where  fame  is  reap’d  amid  th’  embattled  field ; 

Yet  far  before  the  troops  thou  darest  appear,  155 
And  meet  a  lance  the  fiercest  heroes  fear. 

Unhappy  they,  and  born  of  luckless  sires, 

Who  tempt  our  fury  when  Minerva  fires ! 

But  if  from  heaven,  celestial,  thou  descend, 

Know,  with  immortals  we  no  more  contend.  160 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VI. 


159 


Not  long  Lycurgus  view’d  the  golden  light, 

That  daring  man,  who  mix’d  with  gods  in  fight. 
Bacchus,  and  Bacchus’  votaries,  he  drove, 

With  brandish’d  steel,  from  Nyssa’s  sacred  grove: 
Their  consecrated  spears  lay  scatter’d  round,  165 
With  curling  vines  and  twisted  ivy  bound ; 

While  Bacchus  headlong  sought  the  briny  flood, 

And  Thetis’  arms  received  the  trembling  god. 

Nor  fail’d  the  crime  the  immortals’  wrath  to  move ; 
(The  immortals  bless’d  with  endless  ease  above ;) 
Deprived  of  sight  by  their  avenging  doom,  171 
Cheerless  he  breathed,  and  wander’d  in  the  gloom : 
Then  sunk  unpitied  to  the  dire  abodes, 

A  wretch  accursed,  and  hated  by  the  gods  ! 

I  brave  not  Heaven :  but  if  the  fruits  of  earth  175 
Sustain  thy  life,  and  human  be  thy  birth, 

Bold  as  thou  art,  too  prodigal  of  breath, 

Approach,  and  enter  the  dark  gates  of  death.*’ 

“  What,  or  from  whence  I  am,  or  who  my  sire,” 
Replied  the  chief,  “  can  Tydeus’  son  inquire  1  180 

Like  leaves  on  trees  the  race  of  man  is  found, 

Now  green  in  youth,  now  withering  on  the  ground  ; 
Another  race  the  following  spring  supplies, 

They  fall  successive,  and  successive  rise ; 

So  generations  in  their  course  decay;  185 

So  flourish  these,  when  those  are  pass’d  away. 

But  if  thou  still  persist  to  search  my  birth, 

Then  hear  a  tale  that  fills  the  spacious  earth : 

“  A  city  stands  on  Argos’  utmost  bound — 

(Argos  the  fair,  for  warlike  steeds  renown’d ;)  190 

Alolian  Sisyphus,  with  wisdom  bless’d, 

In  ancient  time  the  happy  walls  possess’d, 

Then  call’d  Ephyre  :  Glaucus  was  his  son  ; 

Great  Glaucus,  father  of  Bellerophon, 

Who  o’er  the  sons  of  men  in  beauty  shined,  195 
Loved  for  that  valour  which  preserves  mankind. 
Then  mighty  Praetus  Argos’  sceptre  sway’d, 

Whose  hard  commands  Bellerophon  obey’d. 


160 


HOMER. 


With  direful  jealousy  the  monarch  raged, 

And  the  brave  prince  in  numerous  toils  engaged.  200 
For  him  Antaea  burn’d  with  lawless  flame, 

And  strove  to  tempt  him  from  the  paths  of  fame : 

In  vain  she  tempted  the  relentless  youth, 

Endued  with  wisdom,  sacred  fear,  and  truth. 

Fired  at  his  scorn,  the  queen  to  Praetus  fled,  205 
And  begg’d  revenge  for  her  insulted  bed : 

Incensed  he  heard,  resolving  on  his  fate ; 

But  hospitable  laws  restrain’d  his  hate; 

To  Lycia  the  devoted  youth  he  sent, 

With  tablets  seal’d,  that  told  his  dire  intent.  210 
Now,  bless’d  by  every  power  who  guards  the  good, 
The  chief  arrived  at  Xanthus’  silver  flood : 

There  Lycia’s  monarch  paid  him  honours  due, 

Nine  days  he  feasted,  and  nine  bulls  he  slew. 

But  when  the  tenth  bright  morning  orient  glow’d,  215 
The  faithful  youth  his  monarch’s  mandate  show’d : 
The  fatal  tablets,  till  that  instant  seal’d, 

The  deathful  secret  to  the  king  reveal’d. 

First,  dire  Chimaera’s  conquest  was  enjoin’d : 

A  mingled  monster,  of  no  mortal  kind ;  220 

Behind,  a  dragon’s  fiery  tail  was  spread ; 

A  goat’s  rough  body  bore  a  lion’s  head ; 

Her  pitchy  nostrils  flaky  flames  expire ; 

Her  gasping  throat  emits  infernal  fire. 

“  This  pest  he  slaughter’d  ;  (for  he  read  the  skies, 
And  trusted  Heaven’s  informing  prodigies ;)  226 

Then  met  in  arms  the  Solymaean  crew, 

Fiercest  of  men,  and  those  the  warrior  slew. 

Next  the  bold  Amazons’  whole  force  defied, 

And  conquer’d  still,  for  Heaven  was  on  his  side.  230 
“  Nor  ended  here  his  toils :  his  Lycian  foes, 

At  his  return,  a  treacherous  ambush  rose, 

With  levell’d  spears  along  the  winding  shore; 

There  fell  they  breathless,  and  return’d  no  more. 

“  At  length  the  monarch  with  repentant  grief  235 
Confess’d  the  gods,  and  god-descended  chief; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VI. 


161 


His  daughter  gave,  the  stranger  to  detain, 

With  half  the  honours  of  his  ample  reign: 

The  Lycians  grant  a  chosen  space  of  ground, 

With  woods,  with  vineyards,  and  with  harvests 
crown’d.  240 

There  long  the  chief  his  happy  lot  possess’d, 

With  two  brave  sons  and  one  fair  daughter  bless’d, 
Fair  ev’n  in  heavenly  eyes ;  her  fruitful  love 
Crown’d  with  Sarpedon’s  birth  th’  embrace  of  Jove. 
But  when  at  last,  distracted  in  his  mind,  245 

Forsook  by  Heaven,  forsaking  human  kind, 

Wide  o’er  th’  Aleian  field  he  chose  to  stray, 

A  long,  forlorn,  uncomfortable  way  ! 

Woes  heap’d  on  woes  consumed  his  wasted  heart ; 
His  beauteous  daughter  fell  by  Phoebe’s  dart ;  250 

His  eldest  born  by  raging  Mars  was  slain, 

In  combat  on  the  Solymaean  plain. 

Hippolochus  survived  ;  from  him  I  came, 

The  honour’d  author  of  my  birth  and  name  ; 

By  his  decree  I  sought  the  Trojan  town,  255 

By  his  instructions  learn  to  win  renown, 

To  stand  the  first  in  worth  as  in  command, 

To  add  new  honours  to  my  native  land  ; 

Before  my  eyes  my  mighty  sires  to  place, 

And  emulate  the  glories  of  our  race.”  260 

He  spoke,  and  transport  fill’d  Tydides’  heart ; 

In  earth  the  generous  warrior  fix’d  his  dart, 

Then  friendly,  thus,  the  Lycian  prince  address’d : 

“  Welcome,  my  brave  hereditary  guest ! 

Thus  ever  let  us  meet,  with  kind  embrace,  265 
Nor  stain  the  sacred  friendship  of  our  race. 

Know,  chief,  our  grandsires  have  been  guests  of  old, 
CEneus  the  strong,  Bellerophon  the  bold  : 

Our  ancient  seat  his  honour’d  presence  graced, 
Where  twenty  days  in  genial  rites  he  pass’d.  270 
The  parting  heroes  mutual  presents  left ; 

A  golden  goblet  was  thy  grandsire’s  gift : 

CEneus  a  belt  of  matchless  work  bestow’d, 

That  rich  with  Tyrian  die  refulgent  glow’d. 

o  2 


162 


HOMER. 


This  from  his  pledge  I  learn’d,  which  safely  stored 
Among  my  treasures,  still  adorns  my  board  :  276 

For  Tydeus  left  me  young,  when  Thebe’s  wall 
Beheld  the  sons  of  Greece  untimely  fall. 

Mindful  of  this,  in  friendship  let  us  join  ; 

If  Heaven  our  steps  to  foreign  lands  incline,  280 
My  guest  in  Argos  thou,  and  I  in  Lycia  thine. 
Enough  of  Trojans  to  this  lance  shall  yield, 

In  the  full  harvest  of  yon  ample  field; 

Enough  of  Greeks  shall  die  thy  spear  with  gore  ; 

But  thou  and  Diomed  be  foes  no  more.  285 

Now  change  we  arms,  and  prove  to  either  host 
We  guard  the  friendship  of  the  line  we  boast.” 

Thus  having  said,  the  gallant  chiefs  alight, 

Their  hands  they  join,  their  mutual  faith  they  plight; 
Brave  Glaucus  then  each  narrow  thought  resign’d  .* 
(Jove  warm’d  his  bosom  and  enlarged  his  mind  :) 
For  Diomed’s  brass  arms,  of  mean  device, 

For  which  nine  oxen  paid,  (a  vulgar  price,) 

He  gave  his  own,  of  gold  divinely  wrought ; 

A  hundred  beeves  the  shining  purchase  bought.  295 
Meantime  the  guardian  of  the  Trojan  state, 

Great  Hector,  enter’d  at  the  Scaean  gate. 

Beneath  the  beech  trees’  consecrated  shades, 

The  Trojan  matrons  and  the  Trojan  maids 
Around  him  flock’d,  all  press’d  with  pious  care  300 
For  husbands,  brothers,  sons,  engaged  in  wrar. 

He  bids  the  train  in  long  procession  go, 

And  seek  the  gods  to  avert  the  impending  wo. 

And  now  to  Priam’s  stately  courts  he  came, 

Raised  on  arch  columns  of  stupendous  frame  ;  305 

O’er  these  a  range  of  marble  structure  runs, 

The  rich  pavilions  of  his  fifty  sons, 

In  fifty  chambers  lodged  :  and  rooms  of  state 
Opposed  to  those,  where  Priam’s  daughters  sate ; 
Twelve  domes  for  them  and  their  loved  spouses 
shone,  310 

Of  equal  beauty,  and  of  polish’d  stone. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VI. 


163 


Hither  great  Hector  pass’d,  nor  pass’d  unseen 
Of  royal  Hecuba,  his  mother  queen. 

(With  her  Laodice,  whose  beauteous  face 
Surpass’d  the  nymphs  of  Troy’s  illustrious  race.) 
Long  in  a  strict  embrace  she  held  her  son,  316 
And  press’d  his  hand,  and  tender  thus  begun  : 

“  Oh  Hector !  say,  what  great  occasion  calls 
My  son  from  fight,  when  Greece  surrounds  our  walls  1 
Comest  thou  to  supplicate  the  almighty  power,  320 
With  lifted  hands  from  Ilion’s  lofty  tower  1 
Stay,  till  I  bring  the  cup  with  Bacchus  crown’d, 

In  Jove’s  high  name,  to  sprinkle  on  the  ground, 

And  pay  due  vows  to  all  the  gods  around. 

Then  with  a  plenteous  draught  refresh  thy  soul,  325 
And  draw  new  spirits  from  the  generous  bowl, 
Spent  as  thou  art  with  long  laborious  fight, 

The  brave  defender  of  thy  country’s  right.” 

“  Far  hence  be  Bacchus’  gifts,”  the  chief  rejoin’d  • 
“  Inflaming  wine,  pernicious  to  mankind,  330 

Unnerves  the  limbs,  and  dulls  the  noble  mind. 

Let  chiefs  abstain,  and  spare  the  sacred  juice 
To  sprinkle  to  the  gods,  its  better  use. 

Byrne  that  holy  office  were  profaned; 

Ill  fits  it  me,  with  human  gore  distain’d,  335 

To  the  pure  skies  these  horrid  hands  to  raise, 

Or  offer  heaven’s  great  sire  polluted  praise. 

You  with  your  matrons  go,  a  spotless  train, 

And  burn  rich  odours  in  Minerva’s  fane. 

The  largest  mantle  your  full  wardrobes  hold,  340 
Most  prized  for  art,  and  labour’d  o’er  with  gold, 
Before  the  goddess’  honour’d  knees  be  spread, 

And  twelve  young  heifers  to  her  altar  led. 

So  may  the  power,  aton’d  by  fervent  prayer, 

Our  wives,  our  infants,  and  our  city  spare,  345 
And  far  avert  Tydides’  wasteful  ire, 

Who  mows  whole  troops,  and  makes  all  Troy  retire. 
Be  this,  oh  mother,  your  religious  care ; 

I  go  to  rouse  soft  Paris  to  the  war ; 


164 


HOMER. 


If  yet,  not  lost  to  all  the  sense  of  shame,  350 

The  recreant  warrior  hear  the  voice  of  lame, 

Oh,  would  kind  earth  the  hateful  wretch  embrace, 
That  pest  of  Troy,  that  ruin  of  our  race  ! 

Deep  to  the  dark  abyss  might  he  descend, 

Troy  yet  should  flourish,  and  my  sorrows  end.”  355 
This  heard,  she  gave  command;  and  summon’d 
came 

Each  noble  matron  and  illustrious  dame. 

The  Phrygian  queen  to  her  rich  wardrobe  went, 
Where  treasured  odours  breathed  a  costly  scent. 
There  lay  the  vestures  of  no  vulgar  art,  360 

Sidonian  maids  embroider’d  every  part, 

Whom  from  soft  Sidon  youthful  Paris  bore, 

With  Helen  touching  on  the  Tyrian  shore. 

Here  as  the  queen  revolved  with  careful  eyes 
The  various  textures  and  the  various  dies,  365 
She  chose  a  veil  that  shone  superior  far, 

And  glow’d  refulgent  as  the  morning  star. 

Herself  with  this  the  long  procession  leads  ; 

The  train  majestically  slow  proceeds. 

Soon  as  to  Ilion’s  topmost  tower  they  come,  370 
And  awful  reach  the  high  Palladian  dome, 

Antenor’s  consort,  fair  Theano,  waits 
As  Pallas’  priestess,  and  unbars  the  gates. 

With  hands  uplifted,  and  imploring  eyes, 

They  fill  the  dome  with  supplicating  cries.  375 
The  priestess  then  the  shining  veil  displays, 

Placed  on  Minerva’s  knees,  and  thus  she  prays  : 

“  Oh,  awful  goddess  !  ever  dreadful  maid, 

Troy’s  strong  defence,  unconquer’d  Pallas,  aid  ! 
Break  thou  Tydides’  spear,  and  let  him  fall  380 
Prone  on  the  dust  before  the  Trojan  wall. 

So  twelve  young  heifers,  guiltless  of  the  yoke, 

Shall  fill  thy  temple  with  a  grateful  smoke. 

But  thou,  atoned  by  penitence  and  prayer, 
Ourselves,  our  infants,  and  our  city  spare  !”  385 

So  pray’d  the  priestess  in  her  holy  fane  ; 

So  vow’d  the  matrons,  but  they  vow’d  in  vain. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VI.  165 

While  these  appear  before  the  power  with  prayers, 
Hector  to  Paris’  lofty  dome  repairs. 

Himself  the  mansion  raised,  from  every  part  390 
Assembling  architects  of  matchless  art. 

Near  Priam’s  court  and  Hector’s  palace  stands 
The  pompous  structure,  and  the  town  commands. 

A  spear  the  hero  bore  of  wondrous  strength, 

Of  full  ten  cubits  was  the  lance’s  length,  395 

The  steely  point  with  golden  ringlets  join’d, 

Before  him  brandish’d,  at  each  motion  shined. 

Thus  entering,  in  the  glittering  rooms  he  found 
His  brother  chief,  whose  useless  arms  lay  round, 
His  eyes  delighting  with  their  splendid  show,  400 
Brightening  the  shield  and  polishing  the  bow. 

Beside  him  Helen  with  her  virgins  stands, 

Guides  their  rich  labours,  and  instructs  their  hands. 

Him  thus  inactive,  with  an  ardent  look 
The  prince  beheld,  and  high  resenting  spoke  :  405 

“  Thy  hate  to  Troy,  is  this  the  time  to  show  1 
(Oh  wretch  ill-fated,  and  thy  country’s  foe  !) 

Paris  and  Greece  against  us  both  conspire ; 

Thy  close  resentment,  and  their  vengeful  ire. 

For  thee  great  Ilion’s  guardian  heroes  fall,  410 
Till  heaps  of  dead  alone  defend  her  wall ; 

For  thee  the  soldier  bleeds,  the  matron  mourns, 

And  wasteful  war  in  all  its  fury  burns. 

Ungrateful  man !  deserves  not  this  thy  care, 

Our  troops  to  hearten,  and  our  toils  to  share  \  415 

Rise,  or  behold  the  conquering  flames  ascend, 

And  all  the  Phrygian  glories  at  an  end.” 

“  Brother,  ’tis  just,”  replied  the  beauteous  youth  ; 
“  Thy  free  remonstrance  proves  thy  worth  and  truth: 
Yet  charge  my  absence  less,  oh  generous  chief!  420 
On  hate  to  Troy,  than  conscious  shame  and  grief; 
Here,  hid  from  human  eyes,  thy  brother  sat, 

And  mourn’d  in  secret  his  and  Ilion’s  fate. 

’Tis  now  enough:  now  glory  spreads  her  charms, 
And  beauteous  Helen  calls  her  chief  to  arms.  425 


166 


HOMER. 


Conquest  to-day  my  happier  sword  may  bless, 

’Tis  man’s  to  fight,  but  Heaven’s  to  give  success. 
But  while  I  arm,  contain  thy  ardent  mind ; 

Or  go,  and  Paris  shall  not  lag  behind.” 

He  said,  nor  answer’d  Priam’s  warlike  son ;  430 

When  Helen  thus  with  lowly  grace  begun : 

“  Oh  generous  brother !  if  the  guilty  dame 
That  caused  these  woes  deserve  a  sister’s  name  ! 
Would  Heaven,  ere  all  these  dreadful  deeds  were  done, 
The  day  that  showed  me  to  the  golden  sun,  435 
Had  seen  my  death  !  Why  did  not  whirlwinds  bear 
The  fatal  infant  to  the  fowls  of  air  1 
Why  sunk  I  not  beneath  the  whelming  tide, 

A nd' mid  the  roarings  of  the  waters  died? 

Heaven  filled  up  all  my  ills,  and  I,  accursed,  440 
Bore  all,  and  Paris,  of  those  ills  the  worst. 

Helen  at  least  a  braver  spouse  might  claim, 

W'arm’d  with  some  virtue,  some  regard  of  fame! 
Now,  tired  with  toils,  thy  fainting  limbs  recline, 
With  toils  sustain’d  for  Paris’  sake  and  mine  :  445 

The  gods  have  link’d  our  miserable  doom, 

Our  present  wo,  and  infamy  to  come  : 

Wide  shall  it  spread,  and  last  through  ages  long, 
Example  sad!  and  theme  of  future  song.” 

The  chief  replied :  “  This  time  forbids  to  rest :  450 
The  Trojan  bands,  by  hostile  fury  press’d, 

Demand  their  Hector,  and  his  arm  require  ; 

The  combat  urges,  and  my  soul’s  on  fire. 

Urge  thou  thy  knight  to  march  where  glory  calls. 
And  timely  join  me,  ere  I  leave  the  walls.  455 

Ere  yet  I  mingle  in  the  direful  fray, 

My  wife,  my  infant,  claim  a  moment’s  stay ; 

This  day,  perhaps  the  last  that  sees  me  here, 
Demands  a  parting  word,  a  tender  tear : 

This  day  some  god  who  hates  our  Trojan  land  460 
May  vanquish  Hector  by  a  Grecian  hand.” 

He  said,  and  pass’d  with  sad  presaging  heart 
To  seek  his  spouse,  his  soul’s  far  dearer  part ; 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VI. 


167 


At  home  he  sought  her,  but  he  sought  in  vain ; 

She,  with  one  maid  of  all  her  menial  train,  465 
Had  thence  retired ;  and  with  her  second  joy, 

The  young  Astyanax,  the  hope  of  Troy : 

Pensive  she  stood  on  Ilion’s  towery  height, 

Beheld  the  war,  and  sicken’d  at  the  sight ; 

There  her  sad  eyes  in  vain  her  lord  explore,  470 
Or  weep  the  wounds  her  bleeding  country  bore. 

But  he  who  found  not  whom  his  soul  desired, 
Whose  virtue  charm’d  him  as  her  beauty  fired, 

Stood  in  the  gates,  and  ask’d  what  way  she  bent 
Her  parting  step.  If  to  the  fane  she  went,  475 
Where  late  the  mourning  matrons  made  resort ; 

Or  sought  her  sisters  in  the  Trojan  court  1 
“  Not  to  the  court,”  replied  the  attendant  train, 

“  Nor  mix’d  with  matrons  to  Minerva’s  fane  : 

To  Tlion’s  steepy  tower  she  bent  her  way,  480 
To  mark  the  fortunes  of  the  doubtful  day. 

Troy  fled,  she  heard,  before  the  Grecian  sword ; 

She  heard,  and  trembled  for  her  absent  lord: 
Distracted  with  surprise,  she  seem’d  to  fly, 

Fear  on  her  cheek,  and  sorrow  in  her  eye.  485 
The  nurse  attended  with  her  infant  boy, 

The  young  Astyanax,  the  hope  of  Troy.” 

Hector,  this  heard,  return’d  without  delay ; 

Swift  through  the  town  he^trod  his  former  way, 
Through  streets  of  palaces,  and  walks  of  state  ;  490 
And  met  the  mourner  at  the  Scaean  gate. 

With  haste  to  meet  him  sprung  the  joyful  fair, 

His  blameless  wife,  Aetion’s  wealthy  heir. 

(Cilician  Thebe  great  Aetion  sway’d, 

And  Hippoplacus’  wide  extended  shade.)  495 

The  nurse  stood  near,  in  whose  embraces  press’d, 
His  only  hope  hung  smiling  at  her  breast, 

Whom  each  soft  charm  and  early  grace  adorn. 

Fair  as  the  newborn  star  that  gilds  the  morn, 

To  this  loved  infant  Hector  gave  the  name  500 
Scamandrius,  from  Scamander’s  honour’d  stream; 


168 


HOMER. 


Astyanax  the  Trojans  call’d  the  boy, 

From  his  great  father,  the  defence  of  Troy. 

Silent  the  warrior  smiled,  and  pleased  resign’d 
To  tender  passions  all  his  mighty  mind ;  505 

His  beauteous  princess  cast  a  mournful  look, 

Hung  on  his  hand,  and  then  dejected  spoke  ; 

Her  bosom  labour’d  with  a  boding  sigh, 

And  the  big  tear  stood  trembling  in  her  eye. 

“  Too  daring  prince  !  ah,  whither  dost  thou  run  1 
Ah,  too  forgetful  of  thy  wife  and  son !  511 

And  think’ st  thou  not  how  wretched  we  shall  be, 

A  widow  I,  a  helpless  orphan  he  ! 

For  sure  such  courage  length  of  life  denies ; 

And  thou  must  fall  thy  virtue’s  sacrifice.  515 

Greece  in  her  single  heroes  strove  in  vain; 

Now  hosts  oppose  thee,  and  thou  must  be  slain ! 

Oh  grant  me,  gods  !  ere  Hector  meets  his  doom, 

All  I  can  ask  of  Heaven,  an  early  tomb ! 

So  shall  my  days  in  one  sad  tenour  run,  520 

And  end  with  sorrows  as  they  first  begun. 

No  parent  now  remains  my  griefs  to  share, 

No  father’s  aid,  no  mother’s  tender  care. 

The  fierce  Achilles  wrapp’d  our  walls  in  fire, 

Laid  Thebe  waste,  and  slew  my  warlike  sire  !  525 

His  fate  compassion  in  the  victor  bred ; 

Stern  as  he  was,  he  yet  revered  the  dead ; 

His  radiant  arms  preserved  from  hostile  spoil, 

And  laid  him  decent  on  the  funeral  pile  ; 

Then  raised  a  mountain  where  his  bones  were  burn’d : 
The  mountain  nymphs  the  rural  tomb  adorn’d :  531 
Jove’s  sylvan  daughters  bade  their  elms  bestow 
A  barren  shade,  and  in  his  honour  grow. 

“  By  the  same  arm  my  seven  brave  brothers  fell ; 
In  one  sad  day  beheld  the  gates  of  hell :  535 

While  the  fat  herds  and  snowy  flocks  they  fed, 
Amid  their  fields  the  hapless  heroes  bled  ! 

My  mother  lived  to  bear  the  victor’s  bands, 

The  queen  of  Hippoplacia’s  sylvan  lands : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VI. 


169 

Redeem’d  too  late,  she  scarce  beheld  again  540 
Her  pleasing  empire  and  her  native  plain, 

When,  ah  !  oppress’d  by  life-consuming  wo, 

She  fell  a  victim  to  Diana’s  bow. 

“  Yet,  while  my  Hector  still  survives,  I  see 
My  father,  mother,  brethren,  all  in  thee ;  545 

Alas  !  my  parents,  brothers,  kindred,  all 
Once  more  will  perish,  if  my  Hector  fall. 

Thy  wife,  thy  infant,  in  thy  danger  share : 

Oh  prove  a  husband’s  and  a  father’s  care  ! 

That  quarter  most  the  skilful  Greeks  annoy,  550 
Where  yon  wild  fig  trees  join  the  wall  of  Troy ; 
Thou  from  this  tower  defend  the  important  post ; 
There  Agamemnon  points  his  dreadful  host, 

That  pass  Tydides,  Ajax,  strive  to  gain, 

And  there  the  vengeful  Spartan  fires  his  train.  555 
Thrice  our  bold  foes  the  fierce  attack  have  given, 

Or  led  by  hopes,  or  dictated  from  heaven. 

Let  others  in  the  field  their  arms  employ, 

But  stay  my  Hector  here,  and  guard  his  Troy.” 

The  chief  replied  :  “  That  post  shall  be  my  care, 
Not  that  alone,  but  all  the  works  of  war.  561 

How  would  the  sons  of  Troy,  in  arms  renown’d, 
And  Troy’s  proud  dames,  whose  garments  sweep 
the  ground, 

Attaint  the  lustre  of  my  former  name, 

Should  Hector  basely  quit  the  field  of  fame !  565 

My  early  youth  was  bred  to  martial  pains, 

My  soul  impels  me  to  the  embattled  plain’s : 

Let  me  be  foremost  to  defend  the  throne, 

And  guard  my  father’s  glories,  and  my  own. 

Yet  come  it  will,  the  day  decreed  by  fates :  570 

(How  my  heart  trembles  while  my  tongue  relates  !) 
The  day  when  thou,  imperial  Troy!  must  bend, 

And  see  thy  warriors  fall,  thy  glories  end. 

And  yet  no  dire  presage  so  wounds  my  mind, 

My  mother’s  death,  the  ruin  of  my  kind,  575 

Not  Priam’s  hoary  hairs  defiled  with  gore, 

Not  all  my  brothers  gasping  on  the  shore ; 

HOM. — i. — p 


170 


HOMER. 


As  thine,  Andromache  !  thy  griefs  I  dread ; 

I  see  thee  trembling,  weeping,  captive  led ! 

In  Argive  looms  our  battles  to  design,  580 

And  woes,  of  which  so  large  a  part  was  thine  ! 

To  bear  the  victor’s  hard  commands,  or  bring 
The  weight  of  waters  from  Hyperia’s  spring. 

There,  while  you  groan  beneath  the  load  of  life, 
They  cry,  ‘  Behold  the  mighty  Hector’s  wife  !’  585 
Some  haughty  Greek,  who  lives  thy  tears  to  see, 
Imbitters  all  thy  woes,  by  naming  me. 

The  thoughts  of  glory  past,  and  present  shame, 

A  thousand  griefs  shall  waken  at  the  name  ! 

May  I  lie  cold  before  that  dreadful  day,  590 

Press’d  with  a  load  of  monumental  clay ! 

Thy  Hector,  wrapp’d  in  everlasting  sleep, 

Shall  neither  hear  thee  sigh,  nor  see  thee  weep.” 

Thus  having  spoke,  the  illustrious  chief  of  Troy 
Stretch’d  his  fond  arms  to  clasp  the  lovely  boy.  595 
The  babe  clung  crying  to  his  nurse’s  breast, 

Scared  at  the  dazzling  helm  and  nodding  crest. 

With  secret  pleasure  each  fond  parent  smiled, 

And  Hector  hasted  to  relieve  his  child ; 

The  glittering  terrors  from  his  brows  unbound,  600 
And  placed  the  beaming  helmet  on  the  ground, 

Then  kiss’d  the  child,  and  lifting  high  in  air, 

Thus  to  the  gods  preferr’d  a  father’s  prayer : 

“  O  thou  !  whose  glory  fills  the  ethereal  throne, 
And  all  ye- deathless  powers,  protect  my  son!  605 
Grant  him,  like  me,  to  purchase  just  renown, 

To  guard  the  Trojans,  to  defend  the  crown, 

Against  his  country’s  foes  the  war  to  wage, 

And  rise  the  Hector  of  the  future  age  ! 

So  when  triumphant  from  successful  toils  610 
Of  heroes  slain  he  bears  the  reeking  spoils, 

W'hole  hosts  may  hail  him  with  deserved  acclaim, 
And  say,  ‘  This  chief  transcends  his  father’s  fame;’ 
While  pleased  amid  the  general  shouts  of  Troy, 

His  mother’s  conscious  heart  o’erflows  with  joy.” 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VI. 


171 

He  spoke,  and  fondly  gazing  on  her  charms,  616 
Restored  the  pleasing  burden  to  her  arms  ; 

Soft  on  her  fragrant  breast  the  babe  she  laid, 
Hush’d  to  repose,  and  with  a  smile  survey’d. 

The  troubled  pleasure  soon  chastised  by  fear,  620 
She  mingled  with  a  smile  a  tender  tear. 

The  soften’d  chief  with  kind  compassion  view’d, 
And  dried  the  falling  drops,  and  thus  pursued  : 

“  Andromache !  my  soul’s  far  better  part ! 

Why  with  untimely  sorrows  heaves  thy  heart?  625 
No  hostile  hand  can  antedate  my  doom, 

Till  fate  condemns  me  to  the  silent  tomb. 

Fix’d  is  the  term  to  all  the  race  of  earth  ; 

And  such  the  hard  condition  of  our  birth. 

No  force  can  then%*esist,  no  flight  can  save  ;  630 

All  sink  alike,  the  fearful  and  the  brave. 

No  more — but  hasten  to  thy  tasks  at  home, 

There  guide  the  spindle,  and  direct  the  loom  : 

Me  glory  summons  to  the  martial  scene ; 

The  field  of  combat  is  the  sphere  for  men :  635 

Where  heroes  war,  the  foremost  place  I  claim, 

The  first  in  danger,  as  the  first  in  fame.” 

Thus  having  said,  the  glorious  chief  resumes 
His  towery  helmet,  black  with  shading  plumes. 

His  princess  parts  with  a  prophetic  sigh,  640 

Unwilling  parts,  and  oft  reverts  her  eye, 

That  stream’d  at  every  look :  then,  moving  slow, 
Sought  her  own  palace,  and  indulged  her  wo. 

There,  while  her  tears  deplored  the  godlike  man, 
Through  all  her  train  the  soft  infection  ran,  645 
The  pious  maids  their  mingled  sorrows  shed, 

And  mourn  the  living  Hector  as  the  dead. 

But  now,  no  longer  deaf  to  honour’s  call, 

Forth  issues  Paris  from  the  palace  wall. 

In  brazen  arms  that  cast  a  gleamy  ray,  650 

Swift  through  the  town  the  warrior  bends  his  way. 
The  wanton  courser  thus,  with  reins  unbound, 

Breaks  from  his  stall,  and  beats  the  trembling  ground; 


172 


HOMER. 


Pamper’d  and  proud,  he  seeks  the  wanton  tides, 

And  laves,  in  height  of  blood,  his  shining  sides;  655 
His  head  now  freed  he  tosses  to  the  skies ; 

His  mane  dishevell’d  o’er  his  shoulders  flies ; 

He  snuffs  the  females  in  the  distant  plain, 

And  springs,  exulting,  to  his  fields  again. 

With  equal  triumph,  sprightly,  bold,  and  gay,  660 
In  arms  refulgent  as  the  god  of  day, 

The  son  of  Priam,  glorying  in  his  might, 

Rush’d  forth  with  Hector  to  the  fields  of  fight. 

And  now  the  warriors  passing  on  the  way, 

The  graceful  Paris  first  excused  his  stay.  665 

To  whom  the  noble  Hector  thus  replied : 

“  Oh  chief!  in  blood,  and  now  ii^arms,  allied  ! 

Thy  power  in  war  with  justice  none  contest; 
Known  is  thy  courage,  and  thy  strength  confess’d. 
What  pity  sloth  should  seize  a  soul  so  brave,  670 
Or  godlike  Paris  live  a  woman’s  slave ! 

My  heart  weeps  blood  at  what  the  Trojans  say, 

And  hopes  thy  deeds  shall  wipe  the  stain  away. 
Haste  then,  in  all  their  glorious  labours  share ; 

For  much  they  suffer,  for  thy  sake,  in  war.  675 
These  ills  shall  cease,  whene’er  by  Jove’s  decree 
We  crown  the  bowl  to  heaven  and  liberty  ; 

While  the  proud  foe  his  frustrate  triumphs  mourns, 
And  Greece  indignant  through  her  seas  returns.” 


BOOK  Y 1 1 


ARGUMENT. 

The  single  Combat  of  Hector  and  Ajax. 

The  battle  renewing  with  double  ardour  on  the  return  of  Hec¬ 
tor,  Minerva  is  under  apprehensions  for  the  Greeks — Apollo, 
seeing  her  descend  from  Olympus,  joins  her  near  the  Scaean 
gate  ;  they  agree  to  put  off  the  general  engagement  for  that 
day,  and  incite  Hector  to  challenge  the  Greeks  to  a  single 
combat — Nine  of  the  princes  accepting  the  challenge,  the  lot 
is  cast,  and  falls  on  Ajax — These  heroes,  after  several  attacks, 
are  parted  by  the  night — The  Trojans  calling  a  council,  An- 
tenor  proposes  the  delivery  of  Helen  to  the  Greeks,  to  which 
Paris  will  not  consent,  but  offers  to  restore  them  her  riches — 
Priam  sends  a  herald  to  make  this  offer,  and  to  demand  a 
truce  for  burning  the  dead,  the  last  of  which  only  is  agreed  to 
by  Agamemnon — When  the  funerals  are  performed,  the 
Greeks,  pursuant  to  the  advice  of  Nestor,  erect  a  fortification 
to  protect  their  fleet  and  camp,  flanked  with  towers,  and  de¬ 
fended  by  a  ditch  and  palisades — Neptune  testifies  his  jealousy 
at  this  work,  but  is  pacified  by  a  promise  from  Jupiter — Both 
armies  pass  the  night  in  feasting,  but  Jupiter  disheartens  the 
Trojans  with  thunder,  and  other  signs  of  his  wrath. — [The 
three-and-twentieth  day  ends  with  the  duel  of  Hector  and 
Ajax  ;  the  next  day  the  truce  is  agreed  on ;  another  is  taken 
up  in  the  funeral  rites  of  the  slain ;  and  one  more  in  building 
the  fortification  before  the  ships.  So  that  somewhat  above 
three  days  is  employed  in  this  book.  The  scene  lies  wholly 
in  the  field.] 


So  spoke  the  guardian  of  the  Trojan  state, 

Then  rush’d  impetuous  through  the  Scaean  gate. 
Him  Paris  follow’d  to  the  dire  alarms  ; 

Both  breathing  slaughter,  both  resolved  in  arms. 

As  when  to  sailors  labouring  through  the  main,  5 
That  long  had  heaved  the  weary  oar  in  vain, 

p  2 


174 


HOMER. 


Jove  bids  at  length  the  expected  gales  arise : 

The  gales  blow  grateful,  and  the  vessel  flies : 

So  welcome  these  to  Troy’s  desiring  train: 

The  bands  are  cheer’d,  the  war  awakes  again.  10 
Bold  Paris  first  the  work  of  death  begun 
On  great  Menestheus,  Areithous’  son : 

Sprung  from  the  fair  Philomela’s  embrace, 

The  pleasing  Arne  was  his  native  place. 

Then  sunk  Eioneus  to  the  shades  below :  15 

Beneath  his  steely  casque  he  felt  the  blow, 

Full  on  his  neck,  from  Hector’s  weighty  hand, 

And  roll’d,  with  limbs  relax’d,  along  the  land. 

By  Glaucus’  spear  the  bold  Iphinous  bleeds. 

Fix’d  in  the  shoulder  as  he  mounts  his  steeds ;  20 

Headlong  he  tumbles :  his  slack  nerves,  unbound, 
Drop  the  cold  useless  members  on  the  ground. 

When  now  Minerva  saw  her  Argive  slain, 

From  vast  Olympus  to  the  gleaming  plain 
Fierce  she  descends  :  Apollo  mark’d  her  flight,  25 
Nor  shot  less  swift  from  llion’s  towery  height : 
Radiant  they  met  beneath  the  beechen  shade  ; 

When  thus  Apollo  to  the  blue-eyed  maid : 

“  What  cause,  oh  daughter  of  almighty  Jove, 

Thus  wings  thy  progress  from  the  realms  above  1  30 
Once  more  impetuous  dost  thou  bend  thy  way, 

To  give  to  Greece  the  long-divided  day  1 
Too  much  has  Troy  already  felt  thy  hate, 

Now  breathe  thy  rage,  and  hush  the  stern  debate  : 
This  day  the  business  of  the  field  suspend ;  35 

War  soon  shall  kindle  and  great  Ilion  bend  ; 

Since  vengeful  goddesses  confederate  join 
To  raze  her  walls,  though  built  by  hands  divine.” 

To  whom  the  progeny  of  Jove  replies  : 

“  I  left,  for  this,  the  council  of  the  skies  :  40 

But  who  shall  bid  conflicting  hosts  forbear, 

What  art  shall  calm  the  furious  sons  of  war  ?” 

To  her  the  god  :  “  Great  Hector’s  soul  incite 
To  dare  the  boldest  Greek  to  single  fight, 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VII.  175 

Till  Greece,  provoked,  from  all  her  numbers  show  45 
A  warrior  worthy  to  be  Hector’s  foe.” 

At  this  agreed,  the  heavenly  powers  withdrew ; 
Sage  Helenus  their  secret  counsels  knew : 

Hector,  inspired,  he  sought :  to  him  address’d, 

Thus  told  the  dictates  of  his  sacred  breast :  50 

“  Oh,  son  of  Priam  !  let  thy  faithful  ear 
Receive  my  words ;  thy  friend  and  brother  hear ! 

Go  forth  persuasive,  and  a  while  engage 
The  warring  nations  to  suspend  their  rage  ; 

Then  dare  the  boldest  of  the  hostile  train  55 

To  mortal  combat  on  the  listed  plain  ; 

For  not  this  day  shall  end  thy  glorious  date ; 

The  gods  have  spoke  it,  and  their  voice  is  fate.” 

He  said  :  the  warrior  heard  the  word  with  joy ; 
Then  with  his  spear  restrain’d  the  youth  of  Troy,  60 
Held  by  the  midst  athwart.  On  either  hand 
The  squadrons  part ;  the  expecting  Trojans  stand  : 
Great  Agamemnon  bids  the  Greeks  forbear; 

They  breathe,  and  hush  the  tumult  of  the  war. 

The  Athenian  maid,  and  glorious  god  of  day,  65 
With  silent  joy  the  settling  hosts  survey : 

In  form  of  vultures,  on  the  beach’s  height 
They  sit  conceal’d,  and  wait  the  future  fight. 

The  thronging  troops  obscure  the  dusky  fields, 
Horrid  with  bristling  spears,  and  gleaming  shields. 
As  when  a  general  darkness  veils  the  main,  71 
(Soft  Zephyr  curling  the  wide  watery  plain,) 

The  waves  scarce  heave,  the  face  of  ocean  sleeps, 
And  a  still  horror  saddens  all  the  deeps  : 

Thus  in  thick  orders  settling  wide  around,  75 

At  length  composed  they  sit,  and  shake  the  ground. 
Great  Hector  first  amid  both  armies  broke 
The  solemn  silence,  and  their  powers  bespoke : 

“  Hear,  all  ye  Trojan,  all  ye  Grecian  bands, 

What  my  soul  prompts,  and  what  some  god  com¬ 
mands  :  80 

Great  Jove,  averse  our  warfare  to  compose, 
O’erwhelms  the  nations  with  new  toils  and  woes : 


176 


HOMER. 


War  with  a  fiercer  tide  once  more  returns, 

Till  Ilion  falls,  or  till  yon  navy  burns. 

You  then,  oh  princes  of  the  Greeks,  appear ;  85 

*Tis  Hector  speaks,  and  calls  the  gods  to  hear : 

From  all  your  troops  select  the  boldest  knight, 

And  him,  the  boldest,  Hector  dares  to  fight. 

Here,  if  I  fall,  by  chance  of  battle  slain, 

Be  his  my  spoil,  and  his  these  arms  remain ;  90 

But  let  my  body,  to  my  friends  return’d, 

By  Trojan  hands  and  Trojan  flames  be  burn’d. 

And  if  Apollo,  in  whose  aid  I  trust, 

Shall  stretch  your  daring  champion  in  the  dust ; 

If  mine  the  glory  to  despoil  the  foe,  95 

On  Phcebus’  temple  I’ll  his  arms  bestow ; 

The  breathless  carcass  to  your  navy  sent, 

Greece  on  the  shore  shall  raise  a  monument ; 

Which  when  some  future  mariner  surveys, 

Wash’d  by  broad  Hellespont’s  resounding  seas,  100 
Thus  shall  he  say :  4  A  valiant  Greek  lies  there 
By  Hector  slain,  the  mighty  man  of  war.’ 

The  stone  shall  tell  your  vanquish’d  hero’s  name, 
And  distant  ages  learn  the  victor’s  fame.” 

This  fierce  defiance  Greece  astonish’d  heard,  105 
Blush’d  to  refuse,  and  to  accept  it  fear’d. 

Stern  Menelaus  first  the  silence  broke, 

And,  inly  groaning,  thus  opprobrious  spoke : 

“  Women  of  Greece  !  oh,  scandal  of  your  race, 
Whose  coward  souls  your  manly  form  disgrace,  110 
How  great  the  shame,  when  every  age  shall  know 
That  not  a  Grecian  met  this  noble  foe  l 
Go  then,  resolve  to  earth,  from  whence  ye  grew, 

A  heartless,  spiritless,  inglorious  crew ! 

Be  what  ye  seem,  unanimated  clay  !  115 

Myself  will  dare  the  danger  of  the  day. 

’Tis  man’s  bold  task  the  generous  strife  to  try, 

But  in  the  hands  of  God  is  victory.” 

These  words  scarce  spoke,  with  generous  ardour 
press’d, 

His  manly  limbs  in  azure  arms  he  dress’d. 


120 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VII. 


177 


That  day,  Atrides  !  a  superior  hand 

Had  stretch’d  thee  breathless  on  the  hostile  strand, 

But  all  at  once,  thy  fury  to  compose, 

The  kings  of  Greece,  an  awful  band,  arose  : 

Ev’n  he  their  chief,  great  Agamemnon,  press’d  125 
Thy  daring  hand,  and  this  advice  address’d  : 

“  Whither,  oh  Menelaus  !  wouldst  thou  run, 

And  tempt  a  fate  which  prudence  bids  thee  shun? 
Grieved  though  thou  art,  forbear  the  rash  design; 
Great  Hector’s  arm  is  mightier  far  than  thine.  130 
Ev’n  fierce  Achilles  learn’d  its  force  to  fear, 

And  trembling  met  this  dreadful  son  of  war. 

Sit  thou  secure  amid  thy  social  band  ; 

Greece  in  our  cause  shall  arm  some  powerful  hand. 
The  mightiest  warrior  of  the  Achaian  name,  135 
Though  bold  and  burning  with  desire  of  fame, 
Content  the  doubtful  honour  might  forego, 

So  great  the  danger,  and  so  brave  the  foe.” 

He  said,  and  turn’d  his  brother’s  vengeful  mind : 
He  stoop’d  to  reason,  and  his  rage  resign’d, 

No  longer  bent  to  rush  on  certain  harms ; 

His  joyful  friends  unbrace  his  azure  arms. 

He  from  whose  lips  divine  persuasion  flows, 

Grave  Nestor,  then  in  graceful  act  arose. 

Thus  to  the  kings  he  spoke :  “  What  grief, 
shame 

Attend  on  Greece,  and  all  the  Grecian  name  ? 

How  shall,  alas  !  her  hoary  heroes  mourn 
Their  sons  degenerate,  and  their  race  a  scorn ! 

What  tears  shall  down  thy  silver  beard  be  roll’d, 

Oh  Peleus,  old  in  arms,  in  wisdom  old!  150 

Once  with  what  joy  the  generous  prince  would  hear 
Of  every  chief  who  fought  this  glorious  war; 
Participate  their  fame,  and  pleased  inquire 
Each  name,  each  action,  and  each  hero’s  sire  ! 
Gods!  should  he  see  our  warriors  trembling  stand, 
And  trembling  all  before  one  hostile  hand,  156 
How  would  he  lift  his  aged  arms  on  high, 

Lament  inglorious  Greece,  and  beg  to  die ! 


140 


what 

145 


178 


HOMER. 


Oh !  would  to  all  the  immortal  powers  above, 
Minerva,  Phoebus,  and  almighty  Jove !  160 

Years  might  again  roll  back,  my  youth  renew, 

And  give  this  arm  the  spring  which  once  it  knew 
When,  fierce  in  war,  where  Jardan’s  waters  fall 
I  led  my  troops  to  Phea’s  trembling  wall, 

And  with  the  Arcadian  spears  my  prowess  tried,  165 
Where  Celadon  rolls  down  his  rapid  tide. 

There  Ereuthalion  braved  us  in  the  field, 

Proud  Areithous’  dreadful  arms  to  wield  : 

Great  Areithous,  known  from  shore  to  shore 
By  the  huge  knotted  iron  mace  he  bore  ;  170 

No  lance  he  shook,  nor  bent  the  twanging  bow. 

But  broke,  with  this,  the  battle  of  the  foe. 

Him  not  by  manly  force  Lycurgus  slew, 

Whose  guileful  javelin  from  the  thicket  flew  : 

Deep  in  a  winding  way  his  breast  assail’d,  175 
Nor  aught  the  warrior’s  thundering  mace  avail’d : 
Supine  he  fell :  those  arms  which  Mars  before 
Had  given  the  vanquish’d,  now  the  victor  bore  : 

But  when  old  age  had  dimm’d  Lycurgus’  eyes, 

To  Ereuthalion  he  consign’d  the  prize.  180 

Furious  with  this  he  crush’d  our  levell’d  bands, 

And  dared  the  trial  of  the  strongest  hands ; 

Nor  could  the  strongest  hands  his  fury  stay ; 

All  saw,  and  fear’d,  his  huge  tempestuous  sway : 

Till  I,  the  youngest  of  the  host,  appear’d,  185 

And,  youngest,  met  whom  all  our  army  fear’d. 

I  fought  the  chief:  my  arms  Minerva  crown’d : 
Prone  fell  the  giant  o’er  a  length  of  ground. 

What  then  he  was,  oh  were  your  Nestor  now  ! 

Nor  Hector’s  self  should  want  an  equal  foe.  190 
But  warriors,  you,  that  youthful  vigour  boast, 

The  flower  of  Greece,  the  examples  of  our  host, 
Sprung  from  such  fathers,  who  such  numbers  sway. 
Can  you  stand  trembling,  and  desert  the  day  1” 

His  warm  reproofs  the  listening  kings  inflame ;  195 
And  nine,  the  noblest  of  the  Grecian  name, 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VII. 


179 


Upstarted  fierce  :  but  far  before  the  rest 
The  king  of  men  advanced  his  dauntless  breast : 

Then  bold  Tydides,  great  in  arms,  appear’d ; 

And  next  his  bulk  gigantic  Ajax  rear’d  :  200 

Oileus  follow’d ;  Idomen  was  there  ; 

And  Merion,  dreadful  as  the  god  of  war  : 

With  these  Eurypylus  and  Thoas  stand, 

And  wise  Ulysses  closed  the  daring  band. 

All  these,  alike  inspired  with  noble  rage,  205 

Demand  the  fight.  To  whom  the  Pylian  sage : 

“  Let  thirst  of  glory  your  brave  souls  divide ; 
What  chief  shall  combat  let  the  lots  decide.  • 

Whom  Heaven  shall  choose,  his  be  the  chance  to  raise 
His  country’s  fame,  his  own  immortal  praise.”  210 
The  lots  produced,  each  hero  signs  his  own ; 

Then  in  the  general’s  helm  the  fates  are  thrown. 
The  people  pray,  with  lifted  eyes  and  hands, 

And  vows  like  these  ascend  from  all  the  bands : 

“  Grant  thou,  Almighty  !  in  whose  hand  is  fate,  215 
A  worthy  champion  for  the  Grecian  state. 

This  task  let  Ajax  or  Tydides  prove, 

Or  he,  the  king  of  kings,  beloved  by  Jove !” 

Old  Nestor  shook  the  casque.  By  Heaven  in¬ 
spired, 

Leap’d  forth  the  lot,  of  every  Greek  desired.  220 
This  from  the  right  to  left  the  herald  bears, 

Held  out  in  order  to  the  Grecian  peers  ; 

Each  to  his  rival  yields  the  mark  unknown, 

Till  godlike  Ajax  finds  the  lot  his  own ; 

Surveys  the  inscription  with  rejoicing  eyes,  225 
Then  casts  before  him,  and  with  transport  cries : 

“  Warriors !  I  claim  the  lot,  and  arm  with  joy ; 

Be  mine  the  conquest  of  this  chief  of  Troy. 

Now,  while  my  brightest  arms  my  limbs  invest, 

To  Saturn’s  son  be  all  your  vows  address’d :  230 

But  pray  in  secret,  lest  the  foes  should  hear, 

And  deem  your  prayers  the  mean  effect  of  fear. 

Said  I  in  secret  1  No,  your  vows  declare 
In  such  a  voice  as  fills  the  earth  and  air. 


180 


HOMER. 


Lives  there  a  chief  whom  Ajax  ought  to  dread,  235 
Ajax,  in  all  the  toils  of  battle  bred  ? 

From  warlike  Salamis  I  drew  my  birth, 

And,  born  to  combats,  fear  no  force  on  earth.” 

He  said.  The  troops  with  elevated  eyes 
Implore  the  god  whose  thunder  rends  the  skies :  240 
“  Oh  father  of  mankind,  superior  lord ! 

On  lofty  Ida’s  holy  hill  ador’d ; 

Who  in  the  highest  heaven  hast  fix’d  thy  throne, 
Supreme  of  gods !  unbounded  and  alone  ; 

Grant  thou,  that  Telamon  may  bear  away  245 
The  praise  and  conquest  of  this  doubtful  day ; 

Or  if  illustrious  Hector  be  thy  care, 

That  both  may  claim  it,  and  that  both  may  share.” 

Now  Ajax  braced  his  dazzling  armour  on ; 
Sheathed  in  bright  steel  the  giant-warrior  shone  : 

He  moves  to  combat  with  majestic  pace ;  251 

So  stalks  in  arms  the  grisly  god  of  Thrace, 

When  Jove  to  punish  faithless  men  prepares, 

And  gives  whole  nations  to  the  waste  of  wars. 

Thus  march’d  the  chief,  tremendous  as  a  god :  255 

Grimly  he  smiled ;  earth  trembled  as  he  strode ; 

His  massy  javelin  quivering  in  his  hand, 

He  stood,  the  bulwark  of  the  Grecian  band. 

Through  every  Argive  heart  new  transport  ran ; 

All  Troy  stood  trembling  at  the  mighty  man :  260 

Ev’n  Hector  paused ;  and,  with  new  doubts  oppress’d, 
Felt  his  great  heart  suspended  in  his  breast : 

’Twas  vain  to  seek  retreat,  and  vain  to  fear ; 
Himself  had  challenged,  and  the  foe  drew  near. 

Stern  Telamon  behind  his  ample  shield,  265 
As  from  a  brazen  tower,  o’erlook’d  the  field : 

Huge  was  its  orb,  with  seven  thick  folds  o’ercast 
Of  tough  bull  hides ;  of  solid  brass  the  last : 

(The  work  of  Tychius,  who  in  Hyle  dwell’d, 

And  in  all  arts  of  armory  excell’d.)  270 

This  Ajax  bore  before  his  manly  breast, 

And,  threatening,  thus  his  adverse  chief  address’d : 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VII. 


181 


“Hector!  approach  my  arm,  and  singly  know 
What  strength  thou  hast,  and  what  the  Grecian  foe. 
Achilles  shuns  the  fight;  yet  some  there  are  275 
Not  void  of  soul,  and  not  unskill’d  in  war. 

Let  him,  inactive  on  the  seabeat  shore, 

Indulge  his  wrath,  and  aid  our  arms  no  more; 
Whole  troops  of  heroes  Greece  has  yet  to  boast, 
And  sends  thee  one,  a  sample  of  her  host.  280 
Such  as  I  am,  I  come  to  prove  thy  might ; 

No  more — be  sudden,  and  begin  the  fight.” 

“  Oh  son  of  Telamon,  thy  country’s  pride  !” 

To  Ajax  thus  the  Trojan  prince  replied  : 

“  Me,  as  a  boy  or  woman,  wouldst  thou  fright,  285 
New  to  the  field,  and  trembling  at  the  fight! 

Thou  meet’st  a  chief  deserving  of  thy  arms, 

To  combat  born,  and  bred  amid  alarms: 

I  know  to  shift  my  ground,  remount  the  car, 

Turn,  charge,  and  answer  every  call  of  war ;  290 

To  right,  to  left,  the  dext’rous  lance  I  wield, 

And  bear  thick  battle  on  my  sounding  shield. 

But  open  be  our  fight,  and  bold  each  blow  ; 

I  steal  no  conquest  from  a  noble  foe.” 

He  said,  and,  rising,  high  above  the  field  295 
Whirl’d  the  long  lance  against  the  sevenfold  shield. 
Full  on  the  brass  descending  from  above 
Through  six  bull  hides  the  furious  weapon  drove, 
Till  in  the  seventh  it  fix’d.  Then  Ajax  threw ; 
Through  Hector’s  shield  the  forceful  javelin  flew, 
His  corslet  enters,  and  his  garment  rends,  301 
And  glancing  downward,  near  his  flank  descends. 
The  wary  Trojan  shrinks,  and,  bending  low 
Beneath  his  buckler,  disappoints  the  blow. 

From  their  bored  shields  the  chiefs  their  javelins 
drew,  305 

Then  close  impetuous,  and  the  charge  renew: 

Fierce  as  the  mountain  lions  bathed  in  blood, 

Or  foaming  boars,  the  terror  of  the  wood, 

At  Ajax,  Hector  his  long  lance  extends  ; 

The  blunted  point  against  the  buckler  bends :  310 

HOM. — I. — Q 


182 


HOMER. 


But  Ajax,  watchful  as  his  foe  drew  near, 

Drove  through  the  Trojan  targe  the  knotty  spear; 

It  reach’d  his  neck,  with  matchless  strength  impell’d, 
Spouts  the  black  gore,  and  dims  his  shining  shield. 
Yet  ceased  not  Hector  thus ;  but,  stooping  down, 

In  his  strong  hand  upheaved  a  flinty  stone.  316 
Black,  craggy,  vast :  to  this  his  force  he  bends ; 

Full  on  the  brazen  boss  the  stone  descends ; 

The  hollow  brass  resounded  with  the  shock. 

Then  Ajax  seized  the  fragment  of  a  rock,  320 

Applied  each  nerve,  and  swinging  round  on  high, 
With  force  tempestuous  let  the  ruin  fly: 

The  huge  stone  thundering  through  his  buckler 
broke, 

His  slacken’d  knees  received  the  numbing  stroke, 
Great  Hector  falls  extended  on  the  field,  325 

His  bulk  supporting  on  the  shatter’d  shield  : 

Nor  wanted  heavenly  aid  :  Apollo’s  might 
Confirm’d  his  sinews,  and  restored  to  fight. 

And  now'  both  heroes  their  broad  falchions  drew : 

In  flaming  circles  round  their  heads  they  flew  ;  330 
But  then  by  heralds’  voice  the  word  was  given, 

The  sacred  ministers  of  earth  and  heaven: 

Divine  Talthybius  whom  the  Greeks  employ, 

And  sage  Idseus  on  the  part  of  Troy. 

Between  the  swords  their  peaceful  sceptres  rear’d ; 
And  first  Idaeus’  awful  voice  was  heard :  336 

“  Forbear,  my  sons  !  your  further  force  to  prove, 
Both  dear  to  men,  and  both  beloved  of  Jove. 

To  either  host  your  matchless  worth  is  known, 
Each  sounds  your  praise,  and  war  is  all  your  own. 
But  now  the  night  extends  her  awful  shade ;  341 

The  goddess  parts  you:  be  the  night  obey’d.” 

To  whom  great  Ajax  his  high  soul  express’d : 

“  Oh  sage  !  to  Hector  be  these  words  address’d. 

Let  him  who  first  provoked  our  chiefs  to  fight,  345 
Let  him  demand  the  sanction  of  the  night ; 

If  first  he  ask  it,  I  content  obey, 

And  cease  the  strife  when  Hector  shows  the  way.” 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VII. 


183 


“  Oh  first  of  Greeks  !”  his  noble  foe  rejoin’d, 

“  Whom  Heaven  adorns,  superior  to  thy  kind,  350 
With  strength  of  body,  and  with  worth  of  mind ! 
Now  martial  law  commands  us  to  forbear  ; 
Hereafter  we  shall  meet  in  glorious  war ; 

Some  future  day  shall  lengthen  out  the  strife, 

And  let  the  gods  decide  of  death  or  life  !  355 

Since  then  the  night  extends  her  gloomy  shade, 

And  Heaven  enjoins  it,  be  the  night  obey’d. 

Return,  brave  Ajax,  to  thy  Grecian  friends, 

And  joy  the  nations  whom  thy  arm  defends ; 

As  I  shall  glad  each  chief,  and  Trojan  wife,  360 
Who  wearies  Heaven  with  vows  for  Hector’s  life. 
But  let  us,  on  this  memorable  day, 

Exchange  some  gift;  that  Greece  and  Troy  may  say. 
Not  hate,  but  glory,  made  these  chiefs  contend ; 

And  each  brave  foe  was  in  his  soul  a  friend.”  365 
With  that,  a  sword  with  stars  of  silver  graced, 
The  baldric  studded,  and  the  sheath  enchased, 

He  gave  the  Greek.'  The  generous  Greek  bestow’d 
A  radiant  belt  that  rich  with  purple  glow’d. 

Then  with  majestic  grace  they  quit  the  plain  ;  370 

This  seeks  the  Grecian,  that  the  Phrygian  train. 

The  Trojan  bands  returning  Hector  wait, 

And  hail  with  joy  the  champion  of  their  state: 
Escaped  great  Ajax,  they  survey’d  him  round, 

Alive,  unharm’d,  and  vigorous  from  his  wound.  375 
To  Troy’s  high  gates  the  godlike  man  they  bear, 
Their  present  triumph,  as  their  late  despair. 

But  Ajax,  glorying  in  his  hardy  deed, 

The  well-arm’d  Greeks  to  Agamemnon  lead. 

A  steer  for  sacrifice  the  king  design’d,  380 

Of  full  five  years,  and  of  the  nobler  kind. 

The  victim  falls  ;  they  strip  the  smoking  hide, 

The  beast  they  quarter,  and  the  joints  divide  ; 

Then  spread  the  tables,  the  repast  prepare, 

Each  takes  his  seat,  and  each  receives  his  share.  385 
The  king  himself,  an  honorary  sign, 

Before  great  Ajax  placed  the  mighty  chine. 


184 


HOMER. 


When  now  the  rage  of  hunger  was  removed, 

Nestor,  in  each  persuasive  art  approved,  389 

The  sage  whose  counsels  long  had  sway’d  the  rest, 
In  words  like  these  his  prudent  thought  express’d: 

“  How  dear,  oh  kings,  this  fatal  day  has  cost! 
What  Greeks  are  perish’d  !  what  a  people  lost ! 
What  tides  of  blood  have  drench’d  Scamander’s 
shore ! 

What  crowds  of  heroes  sunk,  to  rise  no  more !  395 
Then  hear  me,  chief!  nor  let  the  morrow’s  light 
Awake  thy  squadrons  to  new  toils  of  fight: 

Some  space  at  least  permit  the  war  to  breathe, 

While  we  to  flames  our  slaughter’d  friends  bequeath, 
From  the  red  field  their  scattered  bodies  bear,  400 
And  nigh  the  fleet  a  funeral  structure  rear ; 

So  decent  urns  their  snowy  bones  may  keep, 

And  pious  children  o’er  their  ashes  weep. 

Here,  where  on  one  promiscuous  pile  they  blazed, 
High  o’er  them  all  a  general  tomb  be  raised ;  405 

Next,  to  secure  our  camp  and  naval  powers, 

Raise  an  embattled  wall  with  lofty  towers  ; 

From  space  to  space  be  ample  gates  around, 

For  passing  chariots,  and  a  trench  profound. 

So  Greece  to  combat  shall  in  safety  go,  410 

Nor  fear  the  fierce  incursions  of  the  foe.” 

’Twas  thus  the  sage  his  wholesome  counsel  moved; 
The  sceptred  kings  of  Greece  his  words  approved. 

Meanwhile,  convened  at  Priam’s  palace  gate, 

The  Trojan  peers  in  nightly  council  sat:  415 

A  senate  void  of  order,  as  of  choice  ; 

Their  hearts  were  fearful,  and  confused  their  voice. 
Antenor  rising,  thus  demands  their  ear: 

“Ye  Trojans,  Dardans,  and  auxiliars,  hear  ! 

’Tis  Heaven  the  counsel  of  my  breast  inspires,  420 
And  I  but  move  what  every  god  requires: 

Let  Sparta’s  treasures  be  this  hour  restored, 

And  Argive  Helen  own  her  ancient  lord. 

The  ties  of  faith,  the  sworn  alliance  broke, 

Our  impious  battles  the  just  gods  provoke.  425 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VII. 


185 


As  this  advice  ye  practise,  or  reject, 

So  hope  success,  or  dread  the  dire  effect.” 

The  senior  spoke,  and  sat.  To  whom  replied 
The  graceful  husband  of  the  Spartan  bride : 

“  Cold  counsels,  Trojan,  may  become  thy  years,  430 
But  sound  ungrateful  in  a  warrior’s  ears. 

Old  man,  if  void  of  fallacy  or  art 

Thy  words  express  the  purpose  of  thy  heart, 

Thou,  in  thy  time,  more  sound  advice  hast  given; 
But  wisdom  has  its  date  assign’d  by  Heaven.  435 
Then  hear  me,  princes  of  the  Trojan  name ! 

Their  treasures  I’ll  restore,  but  not  the  dame ; 

My  treasures,  too,  for  peace,  I  will  resign  ! 

But  be  this  bright  possession  ever  mine.” 

’Twas  then,  the  growing  discord  to  compose,  440 
Slow  from  his  seat  the  reverend  Priam  rose : 

His  godlike  aspect  deep  attention  drew : 

He  paused,  and  these  pacific  words  ensue : 

“  Ye  Trojans,  Dardans,  and  auxiliar  bands! 

Now  take  refreshment  as  the  hour  demands:  445 
Guard  well  the  walls,  relieve  the  watch  of  night, 
Till  the  new  sun  restores  the  cheerful  light : 

Then  shall  our  herald,  to  th’  Atrides  sent, 

Before  their  ships  proclaim  my  son’s  intent. 

Next  let  a  truce  be  ask’d,  that  Troy  may  burn  450 
Her  slaughter’d  heroes,  and  their  bones  inurn; 

That  done,  once  more  the  fate  of  war  be  tried, 

And  whose  the  conquest,  mighty  Jove  decide !” 

The  monarch  spoke :  the  warriors  snatch’d  with 
haste, 

Each  at  his  post  in  arms,  a  short  repast.  455 

Soon  as  the  rosy  morn  had  waked  the  day, 

To  the  black  ships  Idaeus  bent  his  way; 

There,  to  the  sons  of  Mars,  in  council  found, 

He  raised  his  voice  ;  the  host  stood  listening  round: 

“  Ye  sons  of  Atreus,  and  ye  Greeks,  give  ear ! 

The  words  of  Troy,  and  Troy’s  great  monarch,  hear. 
Pleased  may  ye  hear,  so  Heaven  succeed  my  prayers! 
What  Paris,  author  of  the  war,  declares. 

Q  2 


186 


HOMER. 


The  spoils  and  treasures  he  to  Ilion  bore, 

Oh  had  he  perish’d  ere  they  touch’d  our  shore !  465 
He  proffers  injured  Greece  ;  with  large  increase 
Of  added  Trojan  wealth  to  buy  the  peace  ; 

But  to  restore  the  beauteous  bride  again, 

This  Greece  demands,  and  Troy  requests,  in  vain. 
Next,  oh  ye  chiefs  !  we  ask  a  truce  to  burn  470 
Our  slaughter’d  heroes,  and  their  bones  inurn. 

That  done,  once  more  the  fate  of  war  be  tried, 

And  whose  the  conquest,  mighty  Jove  decide  !” 

The  Greeks  gave  ear,  but  none  the  silence  broke ; 
At  length  Tydides  rose,  and  rising  spoke  :  475 

“  Oh,  take  not,  friends  !  defrauded  of  your  fame, 
Their  proffer’d  wealth,  nor  ev’n  the  Spartan  dame: 
Let  conquest  make  them  ours :  fate  shakes  their 
wall, 

And  Troy  already  totters  to  her  fall.” 

Th’  admiring  chiefs,  and  all  the  Grecian  name, 
With  general  shouts  return’d  him  loud  acclaim.  481 
Then  thus  the  king  of  kings  rejects  the  peace: 

“  Herald  !  in  him  thou  hear’st  the  voice  of  Greece. 
For  what  remains  ;  let  funeral  flames  be  fed 
With  heroes’  corpse  ;  I  war  not  with  the  dead  :  485 
Go  search  your  slaughter’d  chiefs  on  yonder  plain, 
And  gratify  the  manes  of  the  slain. 

Be  witness,  Jove,  whose  thunder  rolls  on  high  !” 

He  said,  and  rear’d  his  sceptre  to  the  sky. 

To  sacred  Troy,  where  all  her  princes  lay  490 
To  wait  th’  event,  the  herald  bent  his  way. 

He  came,  and,  standing  in  the  midst,  explain’d 
The  peace  rejected,  but  the  truce  obtain’d. 

Straight  to  their  several  cares  the  Trojans  move, 
Some  search  the  plain,  some  fell  the  sounding  grove : 
Nor  less  the  Greeks,  descending  on  the  shore,  496 
Hew’d  the  green  forests,  and  the  bodies  bore. 

And  now  from  forth  the  chambers  of  the  main, 

To  shed  his  sacred  light  on  earth  again, 

Arose  the  golden  chariot  of  the  day,  500 

And  tipp’d  the  mountains  with  a  purple  ray. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VII. 


187 


In  mingled  throngs  the  Greek  and  Trojan  train 
Through  heaps  of  carnage  search’d  the  mournful 
plain. 

Scarce  could  the  friend  his  slaughter’d  friend  ex¬ 
plore, 

With  dust  dishonour’d,  and  deform’d  with  gore.  505 
The  wounds  they  wash’d,  their  pious  tears  they  shed, 
And,  laid  along  their  cars,  deplored  the  dead. 

Sage  Priam  check’d  their  grief :  with  silent  haste 
The  bodies  decent  on  their  piles  were  placed : 

With  melting  hearts  the  cold  remains  they  burn’d  ; 
And  sadly  slow  to  sacred  Troy  return’d.  511 

Nor  less  the  Greeks  their  pious  sorrow  shed, 

And  decent  on  the  pile  dispose  the  dead  ; 

The  cold  remains  consume  with  equal  care ; 

And  slowly,  sadly,  to  their  fleet  repair.  515 

Now,  ere  the  morn  had  streak’d  with  redd’ning  light 
The  doubtful  confines  of  the  day  and  night, 

About  the  dying  flames  the  Greeks  appear’d, 

And  round  the  pile  a  general  tomb  they  rear’d. 

Then,  to  secure  the  camp  and  naval  powers,  520 
They  raised  embattled  walls  with  lofty  towers : 
From  space  to  space  were  ample  gates  around, 

For  passing  chariots ;  and  a  trench  profound, 

Of  large  extent;  and  deep  in  earth,  below, 

Strong  piles,  infix’d,  stood  adverse  to  the  foe.  525 
So  toil’d  the  Greeks :  meanwhile  the  gods  above, 
In  shining  circle  round  their  father  Jove, 

Amazed  beheld  the  wondrous  works  of  man ; 

Then  he  whose  trident  shakes  the  earth  began : 

“  What  mortals  henceforth  shall  our  power  adore, 
Our  fanes  frequent,  our  oracles  implore,  531 

If  the  proud  Grecians  thus  successful  boast 
Their  rising  bulwarks  on  the  seabeat  coast? 

See  the  long  walls  extending  to  the  main, 

No  god  consulted,  and  no  victim  slain !  535 

Their  fame  shall  fill  the  world’s  remotest  ends, 

Wide  as  the  morn  her  golden  beam  extends ; 


188 


HOMER. 


While  old  Laomedon’s  divine  abodes, 

Those  radiant  structures  raised  by  labouring  gods, 
Shall,  razed  and  lost,  in  long  oblivion  sleep.”  540 
Thus  spoke  the  hoary  monarch  of  the  deep. 

Th’  almighty  Thunderer  with  a  frown  replies, 
That  clouds  the  world,  and  blackens  half  the  skies : 
“  Strong  god  of  ocean  !  thou,  whose  rage  can  make 
The  solid  earth’s  eternal  basis  shake !  545 

What  cause  of  fear  from  mortal  works  could  move 
The  meanest  subject  of  our  realms  above  ? 
Where’er  the  sun's  refulgent  rays  are  cast, 

Thy  power  is  honour’d,  and  thy  fame  shall  last : 

But  yon  proud  work  no  future  age  shall  view,  550 
No  trace  remain  where  once  the  glory  grew. 

The  sapp’d  foundations  by  thy  force  shall  fall, 

And,  whelm’d  beneath  thy  waves,  drop  the  huge 
wall: 

Vast  drifts  of  sand  shall  change  the  former  shore; 
The  ruin  vanish’d,  and  the  name  no  more.”  555 
Thus  they  in  heaven ;  while  o’er  the  Grecian 
train, 

The  rolling  sun  descending  to  the  main 
Beheld  the  finish’d  work.  Their  bulls  they  slew: 
Black  from  the  tents  the  savoury  vapours  flew.  559 
And  now  the  fleet,  arrived  from  Lemnos’  strands, 
With  Bacchus’  blessings  cheer’d  the  generous  bands. 
Of  fragrant  wines  the  rich  Eunseus  sent 
A  thousand  measures  to  the  royal  tent — 

(Eunseus,  whom  Hypsipyle  of  yore 

To  Jason,  shepherd  of  his  people,  bore.)  565 

The  rest  they  purchased  at  their  proper  cost, 

And  well  the  plenteous  freight  supplied  the  host : 
Each,  in  exchange,  proportion’d  treasures  gave  : 
Some  brass,  or  iron  ;  some  an  ox  or  slave.  569 
All  night  they  feast,  the  Greek  and  Trojan  powers  ; 
Those  on  the  fields,  and  these  within  their  towers. 
But  Jove  averse  the  signs  of  wrath  display’d, 

And  shot  red  lightnings  through  the  gloomy  shade  : 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VII. 


189 


Humbled  they  stood ;  pale  terror  seized  on  all, 
While  the  deep  thunder  shook  the  aerial  hall.  575 
Each  pour’d  to  Jove,  before  the  bowl  was  crown’d  j 
And  large  libations  drench’d  the  thirsty  ground : 
Then  late,  refresh’d  with  sleep  from  toils  of  fight, 
Enjoy’d  the  balmy  blessings  of  the  night. 


* 


BOOK  VIII. 


ARGUMENT. 

The  second  Battle,  and  the  Distress  of  the  Greeks. 

Jupiter  assembles  a  council  of  the  deities,  and  threatens  them 
with  the  pains  of  Tartarus  if  they  assist  either  side  :  Minerva 
only  obtains  of  him  that  she  may  direct  the  Greeks  by  her 
counsels — The  armies  join  battle :  Jupiter  on  Mount  Ida 
weighs  in  his  balances  the  fates  of  both,  and  affrights  the 
Greeks  with  his  thunders  and  lightnings — Nestor  alone  con¬ 
tinues  in  the  field  in  great  danger  ;  Diomed  relieves  him ; 
whose  exploits,  and  those  of  Hector,  are  excellently  described 
— Juno  endeavours  to  animate  Neptune  to  the  assistance  of 
the  Greeks,  but  in  vain — The  acts  of  Teucer,  who  is  at  length 
wounded  by  Hector,  and  carried  off— Juno  and  Minerva  pre¬ 
pare  to  aid  the  Grecians  ;  but  are  restrained  by  Iris,  sent  from 
Jupiter — The  night  puts  an  end  to  the  battle — Hector  con¬ 
tinues  in  the  field,  (the  Greeks  being  driven  to  their  fortifica¬ 
tions  before  the  ships,)  and  gives  orders  to  keep  the  watch  all 
night  in  the  camp,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  re-embarking 
and  escaping  by  flight — They  kindle  fires  through  all  the 
field,  and  pass  the  night  under  arms. — [The  time  of  seven- 
and-twenty  days  is  employed  from  the  opening  of  the  poem  to 
the  end  of  this  book.  The  scene  here  (except  of  the  celestial 
machines)  lies  in  the  field  towards  the  seashore.] 


Aurora,  now,  fair  daughter  of  the  dawn, 

Sprinkled  with  rosy  light  the  dewy  lawn ; 

When  Jove  convene?!  the  senate  of  the  skies, 
Where  high  Olympus’  cloudy  tops  arise. 

The  sire  of  gods  his  awful  silence  broke,  5 

The  heavens  attentive  trembled  as  he  spoke  : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VIII. 


191 


“Celestial  states,  immortal  gods!  give  ear; 

Hear  our  decree,  and  reverence  what  ye  hear : 

The  fix’d  decree,  which  not  all  heaven  can  move ; 
Thou,  Fate  !  fulfil  it ;  and,  ye  powers  !  approve  !  10 
What  god  but  enters  yon  forbidden  field, 

Who  yields  assistance,  or  but  wills  to  yield, 

Back  to  the  skies  with  shame  he  shall  be  driven, 
Gash’d  with  dishonest  wounds,  the  scorn  of  heaven: 
Or  far,  oh  far  from  steep  Olympus  thrown,  15 

Low  in  the  dark  Tartarean  gulf  shall  groan, 

With  burning  chains  fix’d  to  the  brazen  floors, 

And  lock’d  by  hell’s  inexorable  doors  ; 

As  deep  beneath  the  infernal  centre  hurl’d, 

As  from  that  centre  to  the  ethereal  world.  20 

Let  him  who  tempts  me  dread  those  dire  abodes ; 
And  know,  the  Almighty  is  the  god  of  gods. 

League  all  your  forces  then,  ye  powers  above, 

Join  all,  and  try  the  omnipotence  of  Jove  : 

Let  down  our  golden  everlasting  chain,  25 

Whose  strong  embrace  holds  heaven,  and  earth,  and 
main : 

Strive  all,  of  mortal,  and  immortal  birth, 

To  drag,  by  this,  the  Thunderer  down  to  earth : 

Ye  strive  in  vain !  If  I  but  stretch  this  hand, 

I  heave  the  gods,  the  ocean,  and  the  land ;  30 

T  fix  the  chain  to  great  Olympus’  height, 

And  the  vast  world  hangs  trembling  in  my  sight ! 
For  such  I  reign,  unbounded  and  above ; 

And  such  are  men  and  gods  compared  to  Jove.” 

The  Almighty  spoke,  nor  durst  the  powers  reply,  35 
A  reverend  horror  silenced  all  the  sky ; 

Trembling  they  stood  before  their  sovereign’s  look; 
At  length  his  best  beloved,  the  power  of  wisdom, 
spoke : 

“  Oh  first  and  greatest !  god,  by  gods  adored ! 

We  own  thy  might,  our  father  and  our  lord !  40 

But,  ah  !  permit  to  pity  human  state ; 

If  not  to  help,  at  least  lament  their  fate. 


192 


homer. 


From  fields  forbidden  we  submiss  refrain, 

With  arms  unaiding  mourn  our  Argives  slain  ; 

Yet  grant  my  counsels  still  their  breasts  may  n,yve, 
Or  all  must  perish  in  the  wrath  of  Jove.”  46 

The  cloud-compelling  god  her  suit  approved, 

And  smiled  superior  on  his  best  beloved  : 

Then  called  his  coursers,  and  his  chariot  took  ; 

The  steadfast  firmament  beneath  them  shook  :  50 

Rapt  by  the  ethereal  steeds  the  chariot  roll’d  ; 

Brass  were  their  hoofs,  their  curling  manes  of  gold. 
Of  heaven’s  undrossy  gold  the  god’s  array, 
Refulgent,  flash’d  intolerable  day. 

High  on  the  throne  he  shines  :  his  coursers  fly  55 
Between  the  extended  earth  and  starry  sky. 

But  when  to  Ida’s  topmost  height  he  came, 

(Fair  nurse  of  fountains  and  of  savage  game,) 

Where,  o’er  her  pointed  summits  proudly  raised, 

His  fane  breathed  odours,  and  his  altar  blazed ;  60 

There  from  his  radiant  car  the  sacred  sire 
Of  gods  and  men  released  the  steeds  of  fire  : 

Blue  ambient  mists  the  immortal  steeds  embraced ; 
High  on  the  cloudy  point  his  seat  he  placed ; 

Thence  his  broad  eye  the  subject  world  surveys,  65 
The  town,  and  tents,  and  navigable  seas. 

Now  had  the  Grecians  snatch’d  a  short  repast,  . 
And  buckled  on  their  shining  arms  with  haste. 

Troy  roused  as  soon  ;  for  on  this  dreadful  day 
The  fate  of  fathers,  wives,  and  infants  lay.  70 

The  gates  unfolding  pour  forth  all  their  train ; 
Squadrons  on  squadrons  cloud  the  dusky  plain  : 

Men,  steeds,  and  chariots  shake  the  trembling  ground : 
The  tumult  thickens,  and  the  skies  resound. 

And  now  with  shouts  the  shocking  armies  closed,  75 
To  lances  lances,  shields  to  shields  opposed  ; 

Host  against  host  with  shadowy  legions  drew, 

The  sounding  darts  in  iron  tempests  flew  ; 

Victors  and  vanquish’d  join  promiscuous  cries, 
Triumphant  shouts  and  dying  groans  arise :  80 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VIII. 


193 


With  streaming  blood  the  slippery  fields  are  died, 
And  slaughter’d  heroes  swell  the  dreadful  tide. 

Long  as  the  morning  beams  increasing  bright, 

O’er  heaven’s  clear  azure  spread  the  sacred  light : 
Commutuai  death  the  fate  of  war  confounds,  85 
Each  adverse  battle  gored  with  equal  wounds. 

But  when  the  sun  the  height  of  heaven  ascends, 

The  sire  of  gods  his  golden  scales  suspends, 

With  equal  hand  :  in  these  explored  the  fate  89 
Of  Greece  and  Troy,  and  poised  the  mighty  weight. 
Press’d  with  its  load,  the  Grecian  balance  lies 
Low  sunk  on  earth,  the  Trojan  strikes  the  skies. 
Then  Jove  from  Ida’s  top  his  horror  spreads  ; 

The  clouds  burst  dreadful  o’er  the  Grecian  heads :  94 
Thick  lightnings  flash ;  the  muttering  thunder  rolls, 
Their  strength  he  withers,  and  unmans  their  souls. 
Before  his  wrath  the  trembling  hosts  retire; 

The  gods  in  terror,  and  the  skies  on  fire. 

Nor  great  Idomeneus  that  sight  could  bear, 

Nor  each  stern  Ajax,  thunderbolts  of  war  :  100 

Nor  he,  the  king  of  men,  the  alarm  sustain’d ; 
Nestor  alone  amid  the  storm  remained. 

Unwilling  he  remain’d,  for  Paris’  dart 
Had  pierced  his  courser  in  a  mortal  part . 

Fix’d  in  the  forehead,  where  the  springing  mane  105 
Curl’d  o’er  the  brow, it  stung  him  to  the  brain: 

Mad  with  his  anguish,  he  begins  to  rear, 

Paw  with  his  hoofs  aloft,  and  lash  the  air. 

Scarce  had  his  falchion  cut  the  reins,  and  freed  . 
The  encumber’d  chariot  from  the  dying  steed,  110 
When  dreadful  Hector,  thundering  through  the  war, 
Pour’d  to  the  tumult  on  his  whirling  car. 

That  day  had  stretch’d  beneath  his  matchless  hand 
The  hoary  monarch  of  the  Pylian  band, 

But  Diomed  beheld  ;  from  forth  the  crowd  115 
He  rush’d,  and  on  Ulysses  call’d  aloud : 

“  Whither,  oh  whither  does  Ulysses  run  ? 

Oh  flight  unworthy  great  Laertes’  son  ! 

HOM. — I. — R 


194 


HOMER. 


Mix’d  with  the  vulgar  shall  thy  fate  be  found, 
Pierced  in  the  back,  a  vile  dishonest  wound!  120 
Oh  turn,  and  save  from  Hector’s  direful  rage 
The  glory  of  the  Greeks,  the  Pylian  sage.” 

His  fruitless  words  are  lost  unheard  in  air, 

Ulysses  seeks  the  ships,  and  shelters  there. 

But  bold  Tydides  to  the  rescue  goes,  125 

A  single  warrior  mid  a  host  of  foes  : 

Before  the  coursers  with  a  sudden  spring 
He  leap’d,  and  anxious  thus  bespoke  the  king: 

“  Great  perils,  father  !  wait  the  unequal  fight : 
These  younger  champions  will  oppress  thy  might. 
Thy  veins  no  more  with  ancient  vigour  glow,  131 
Weak  is  thy  servant,  and  thy  coursers  slow. 

Then  haste,  ascend  my  seat,  and  from  the  car 
Observe  the  steeds  of  Tros,  renown’d  in  war, 
Practised  alike  to  turn,  to  stop,  to  chase,  135 

To  dare  the  fight,  or  urge  the  rapid  race  : 

These  late  obey’d  ^Eneas’  guiding  rein  ; 

Leave  thou  thy  chariot  to  our  faithful  train : 

With  these  against  yon  Trojans  will  we  go, 

Nor  shall  great  Hector  want  an  equal  foe ;  140 

Fierce  as  he  is,  ev’n  he  may  learn  to  fear 
The  thirsty  fury  of  my  flying  spear.” 

Thus  said  the  chief;  and  Nestor,  skill’d  in  war, 
Approves  his  counsel,  and  ascends  the  car: 

The  steeds  he  left,  their  trusty  servants  hold ;  145 

Eurymedon,  and  Sthenelus  the  bold  : 

The  reverend  charioteer  directs  the  course, 

And  strains  his  aged  arm  to  lash  the  horse. 

Hector  they  face  ;  unknowing  how  to  fear, 

Fierce  he  drove  on  ;  Tydides  whirl’d  his  spear.  150 
The  spear  with  erring  haste  mistook  its  way, 

But  plunged  in  Eniopeus’  bosom  lay. 

His  opening  hand  in  death  forsakes  the  rein  ; 

The  steeds  fly  back ;  he  falls,  and  spurns  the  plain. 
Great  Hector  sorrows  for  his  servant  kill’d,  155 
Yet  unrevenged  permits  to  press  the  field ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VIII. 


195 


Till  to  supply  his  place,  and  rule  the  car, 

Rose  Archeptolemus,  the  fierce  in  war. 

And  now  had  deatli  and  horror  cover’d  all: 

Like  timorous  flocks  the  Trojans  in  their  wall  160 
Enclosed  had  bled  :  but  Jove  with  awful  sound 
Roll’d  the  big  thunder  o’er  the  vast  profound  ; 

Full  in  Tydides’  face  the  lightning  flew  ; 

The  ground  before  him  flamed  with  sulphur  blue  ; 
The  quivering  steeds  fell  prostrate  at  the  sight;  165 
And  Nestor’s  trembling  hand  confess’d  his  fright; 
He  dropp’d  the  reins,  and  shook  with  sacred  dread ; 
Thus,  turaing,  warn’d  the  intrepid  Diomed : 

“  Oh  chief!  too  daring  in  thy  friend’s  defence, 
Retire,  advised,  and  urge  the  chariot  hence.  170 
This  day,  averse,  the  sovereign  of  the  skies 
Assists  great  Hector,  and  our  palm  denies. 

Some  other  sim  may  see  the  happier  hour, 

When  Greece  shall  conquer  by  his  heavenly  power. 
’Tis  not  in  man  his  fix’d  decree  to  move  :  175 

The  great  will  glory  to  submit  to  Jove.” 

“Oh  reverend  prince  !”  Tydides  thus  replies, 

“  Thy  years  are  awful,  and  thy  words  are  wise. 

But  ah,  what  grief!  should  haughty  Hector  boast, 

I  fled  inglorious  to  the  guarded  coast.  180 

Before  that  dire  disgrace  shall  blast  my  fame, 
O’erwhelm  me,  earth,  and  hide  a  warrior’s  shame.” 

To  whom  Gerenian  Nestor  thus  replied  : 

“  Gods  !  can  thy  courage  fear  the  Phrygian’s  pride  1 
Hector  may  vaunt, but  who  shall  heed  the  boast  1  185 
Not  those  who  felt  thy  arm,  the  Dardan  host, 

Nor  Troy,  yet  bleeding  in  her  heroes  lost ; 

Not  ev’n  a  Phrygian  dame,  who  dreads  the  sword 
That  laid  in  dust  her  loved  lamented  lord.” 

He  said,  and  hasty  o’er  the  gasping  throng  190 
Drives  the  swift  steeds ;  the  chariot  smokes  along. 
The  shouts  of  Trojans  thicken  in  the  wind, 

The  storm  of  hissing  javelins  pour  behind. 

Then,  with  a  voice  that  shakes  the  solid  skies, 
Pleased  Hector  braves  the  warrior  as  he  flies :  195 


196 


HOMER. 


“  Go,  mighty  hero,  graced  above  the  rest 
In  seats  of  council  and  the  sumptuous  feast ! 

Now  hope  no  more  those  honours  from  thy  train; 
Go,  less  than  woman,  in  the  form  of  man  ! 

To  scale  our  walls,  to  wrap  our  towers  in  flames,  200 
To  lead  in  exile  the  fair  Phrygian  dames, 

Thy  once  proud  hopes,  presumptuous  prince !  are 
fled ; 

This  arm  shall  reach  thy  heart,  and  stretch  thee 
dead.” 

Now  fears  dissuade  him,  and  now  hopes  invite, 
To  stop  his  coursers,  and  to  stand  the  fight":  205 

Thrice  turn’d  the  chief,  and  thrice  imperial  Jove 
On  Ida’s  summits  thunder’d  from  above : 

Great  Hecton  heard  ;  he  saw  the  flashing  light, 
(The  sign  of  conquest,)  and  thus  urged  the  fight : 

“  Hear,  every  Trojan,  Lycian,  Dardan  band,  210 
All  famed  in  war,  and  dreadful  hand  to  har\d. 

Be  mindful  of  the  wreaths  your  arms  have  won, 
Your  great  forefathers’  glories  and  your  own. 
Heard  ye  the  voice  of  Jove  1  Success  and  fame 
Await  on  Troy,  on  Greece  eternal  shame.  215 
In  vain  they  skulk  behind  their  boasted  wall, 

Weak  bulwarks!  destined  by  this  arm  to  fall. 

High  o’er  their  slighted  trench  our  steeds  shall 
bound, 

And  pass  victorious  o’er  the  levell’d  mound. 

Soon  as  before  yon  hollow  ships  we  stand,  220 
Fight  each  with  flames,  and  toss  the  blazing  brand  ; 
Till  their  proud  navy,  wrapp’d  in  smoke  and  fires, 
All  Greece,  encompass’d  in  one  blaze,  expires.” 

Furious  be  said  ;  then,  bending  o’er  the  yoke,  224 
Encouraged  his  proud  steeds,  while  thus  he  spoke  : 
“  Now,  Xanthus,  jEthon,  Lampus !  urge  the  chase, 
And  thou,  Podargus  !  prove  thy  generous  race  : 

Be  fleet,  be  fearless,  this  important  day, 

And  all  your  master’s  well-spent  care  repay. 

For  this,  high  fed  in  plenteous  stalls  ye  stand,  230 
Served  with  pure  wheat,  and  by  a  princess’  hand ; 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VIII. 


197 


For  this  my  spouse,  of  great  Aetion’s  line, 

So  oft  has  steep’d  the  strengthening  grain  in  wine. 
Now  swift  pursue,  now  thunder  uncontroll’d  ; 

Give  me  to  seize  rich  Nestor’s  shield  of  gold,  235 
From  Tydeus’  shoulders  strip  the  costly  load, 
Yulcanian  arms,  the  labour  of  a  god: 

These  if  we  gain,  then  victory,  ye  powers! 

This  night,  this  glorious  night,  the  fleet  is  ours.” 

That  heard,  deep  anguish  stung  Saturnia’s  soul: 
She  shook  her  throne  that  shook  the  starry  pole  :  241 
And  thus  to  Neptune  :  ‘k  Thou,  whose  force  can  make 
The  steadfast  earth  from  her  foundations  shake, 
Seest  thou  the  Greeks  by  fates  unjust  oppress’d, 
Nor  swells  thy  heart  in  that  immortal  breast  ?  245 

Yet  Mg  a,  Helice,  thy  power  obey, 

And  gifts  unceasing  on  thine  altars  lay. 

Would  all  the  deities  of  Greece  combine, 

In  vain  the  gloomy  Thunderer  might  repine  : 

Sole  should  he  sit,  with  scarce  a  god  to  friend,  250 
And  see  his  Trojans  to  the  shades  descend: 

Such  be  the  scene  from  his  ldaean  bower ;  • 

Ungrateful  prospect  to  the  sullen  power!” 

Neptune  with  wrath  rejects  the  rash  design  : 

“  What  rage,  what  madness,  furious  queen,  is  thine  ? 
I  war  not  with  the  highest.  All  above  256 

Submit  and  tremble  at  the  hand  of  Jove.” 

Now  godlike  Hector,  to  whose  matchless  might 
Jove  gave  the  glory  of  the  destined  fight, 

Squadrons  on  squadrons  drives,  and  fills  the  fields 
With  close  ranged  chariots,  and  with  thicken’d 
shields.  261 

Where  the  deep  trench  in  length  extended  lay, 
Compacted  troops  stand  wedged  in  firm  array, 

A  dreadful  front !  they  shake  the  brands,  and  threat 
With  long-destroying  flames  the  hostile  fleet.  265 
The  king  of  men,  by  Juno’s  self  inspired, 

Toil’d  through  the  tents,  and  all  his  army  fired. 
Swift  as  he  moved,  he  lifted  in  his  hand 
His  purple  robe,  bright  ensign  of  command. 


1 


198  HOMER. 

High  on  the  midmost  bark  the  king  appeared ;  270 

There,  from  Ulysses’  deck  his  voice  was  heard: 

To  Ajax  and  Achilles  reach’d  the  sound, 

Whose  distant  ships  the  guarded  navy  hound. 

“  Oh  Argives  !  shame  of  human  race  !”  he  cried, 
(The  hollow  vessels  to  his  voice  replied,)  275 

44  Where  now  are  all  your  glorious  boasts  of  yore, 
Your  hasty  triumphs  on  the  Lemnian  shore  2 
Each  fearless  hero  dares  a  hundred  foes, 

While  the  feast  lasts,  and  while  the  goblet  flows ; 
But  who  to  meet  one  martial  man  is  found,  280 
When  the  fight  rages,  and  the  flames  surround  2 
Oh  mighty  Jove  !  oh  sire  of  the  distress’d ! 

Was  ever  king  like  me,  like  me  oppress’d 2 
With  power  immense,  with  justice  arm’d  in  vain; 
My  glory  ravish’d,  and  my  people  slain?  285 

To  thee  my  vows  were  breathed  from  every  shore; 
W’hat  altar  smoked  not  with  our  victims’  gore  ? 

With  fat  of  bulls  I  fed  the  constant  flame, 

And  ask’d  destruction  to  the  Trojan  name. 

Now,  gracious  god  !  far  humbler  our  demand  ;  290 

Give  these  at  least  to  escape  from  Hector’s  hand, 
And  save  the  relics  of  the  Grecian  land  !” 

Thus  pray’d  the  king ;  and  heaven’s  great  father 
heard 

His  vows,  in  bitterness  of  soul  preferred ; 

The  wrath  appeased,  by  happy  signs  declares,  295 
And  gives  the  people  to  their  monarch’s  prayers. 

His  eagle,  sacred  bird  of  heaven  1  he  sent, 

A  fawn  his  talons  truss’d  :  (divine  portent !) 

High  o’er  the  wondering  hosts  he  soar’d  above, 

Who  paid  their  vows  to  Panomphaean  Jove  ;  300 

Then  let  the  prey  before  his  altar  fall : 

The  Greeks  beheld,  and  transport  seized  on  all : 
Encouraged  by  the  sign,  the  troops  revive, 

And  fierce  on  Troy  with  double  fury  drive. 

Tydides  first,  of  all  the  Grecian  force,  305 

O’er  the  broad  ditch  impell’d  his  foaming  horse. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VIII. 


199 


Pierced  the  deep  ranks,  their  strongest  battle  tore, 
And  died  his  javelin  red  with  Trojan  gore. 

Young  Agelaus  (Phradmon  was  his  sire) 

With  flying  coursers  shunn’d  his  dreadful  ire:  310 
Struck  through  the  back, the  Phrygian  fell  oppress’d; 
The  dart  drove  on,  and  issued  at  his  breast : 
Headlong  he  quits  the  car  ;  his  arms  resound  : 

His  ponderous  buckler  thunders  on  the  ground. 
Forth  rush  a  tide  of  Greeks,  the  passage  freed:  315 
The  Atridae  first,  the  Ajaces  next  succeed : 
Meriones,  like  Mars  in  arms  renown’d, 

And  godlike  Idomen,  now  pass’d  the  mound  : 
Evaernon’s  son  next  issues  to  the  foe, 

And  last,  young  T.eucer  with  his  bended  bow.  320 
Secure  behind  the  Telamonian  shield 
The  skilful  archer  wide  survey’d  the  field, 

With  every  shaft  some  hostile  victim  slew, 

Then  close  beneath  the  sevenfold  orb  withdrew  : 
The  conscious  infant  so,  when  fear  alarms,  325 
Retires  for  safety  to  the  mother’s  arms. 

Thus  Ajax  guards  his  brother  in  the  field, 

Moves  as  he  moves,  and  turns  the  shining  shield. 

Who  first  by  Teucers  mortal  arrows  bled  1 
Orsilochus  :  then  fell  Ormenus  dead  :  330 

The  godlike  Lycophron  next  press’d  the  plain, 

With  Chromius,  Daetor,  Ophelestes  slain : 

Bold  Hamopaon  breathless  sunk  to  ground  ; 

The  bloody  pile  great  Melanippus  crown’d. 

Heaps  fell  on  heaps,  sad  trophies  of  his  art ;  335 

A  Trojan  ghost  attended  every  dart. 

Great  Agamemnon  views  with  joyful  eye 
The  ranks  grow  thinner  as  his  arrows  fly  : 

“  Oh  youth  for  ever  dear  !”  the  monarch  cried, 
“Thus,  always  thus,  thy  early  worth  be  tried  ;  340 
Thy  brave  example  shall  retrieve  our  host, 

Thy  country’s  saviour,  and  thy  father’s  boast! 
Sprung  from  an  alien’s  bed  thy  sire  to  grace, 

The  vigorous  offspring  of  a  stol’n  embrace.” 


500 


HOMER. 


Proud  of  his  boy,  he  own’d  the  generous  flame,  345 
And  the  brave  son  repays  his  cares  with  fame. 

Now  hear  a  monarch’s  vow:  “  If  Heaven’s  high 
powers 

Give  me  to  raze  Troy’s  long-defended  towers  ; 
Whatever  treasures  Greece  for  me  design, 

The  next  rich  honorary  gift  be  thine:  350 

Some  golden  tripod,  or  distinguish’d  car, 

With  coursers  dreadful  in  the  ranks  of  war  ; 

Or  some  fair  captive  whom  thy  eyes  approve, 

Shall  recompense  the  warrior’s  toils  with  love.” 

To  this  the  chief :  “  With  praise  the  rest  inspire, 
Nor  urge  a  soul  already  fill’d  with  fire.  356 

What  strength  I  have,  be  now  in  battle  tried, 

Till  every  shaft  in  Phrygian  blood  be  died. 

Since  rallying  from  our  wall  we  forced  the  foe, 

Still  aim’d  at  Hector  have  I  bent  my  bow  :  360 

Eight  forky  arrows  from  this  hand  have  fled, 

And  eight  bold  heroes  by  their  points  lie  dead  : 

But  sure  some  god  denies  me  to  destroy 
This  fury  of  the  field,  this  dog  of  Troy.” 

He  said,  and  twang’d  the  string.  The  weapon 
flies  365 

At  Hector’s  breast,  and  sings  along  the  skies  : 

He  miss’d  the  mark,  but  pierced  Gorgythio’s  heart, 
And  drench’d  in  royal  blood  the  thirsty  dart. 

(Fair  Castianira,  nymph  of  form  divine, 

This  offspring  added  to  King  Priam's  line.)  370 
As  full-blown  poppies,  overcharged  with  rain, 
Decline  the  head,  and  drooping  kiss  the  plain ; 

So  sinks  the  youth:  his  beauteous  head,  depress’d 
Beneath  his  helmet,  drops  upon  his  breast. 

Another  shaft  the  raging  archer  drew  :  375 

That  other  shaft  with  erring  fury  flew, 

(From  Hector  Phoebus  turn’d  the  flying  wound.) 

Yet  fell  not  dry  or  guiltless  to  the  ground  : 

Thy  breast,  brave  Archeptolemus!  it  tore, 

And  dipp’d  its  feathers  in  no  vulgar  gore.  380 


ILIAD. — BOOK  Till. 


201 


Headlong  he  falls  :  his  sudden  fall  alarms 
The  steeds,  that  startle  at  his  sounding  arms. 
Hector  with  grief  his  charioteer  beheld 
All  pale  and  breathless  on  the  sanguine  field. 

Then  bids  Cebriones  direct  the  rein,  385 

Quits  his  bright  car,  and  issues  on  the  plain. 
Dreadful  he  shouts  :  from  earth  a  stone  he  took, 
And  rushed  on  Teucer  with  the  lifted  rock. 

The  youth  already  strain’d  the  forceful  yew; 

The  shaft  already  to  his  shoulder  drew  ;  390 

The  feather  in  his  hand,  just  wing’d  for  flight, 
Touch’d  where  the  neck  and  hollow  chest  unite  ; 
There,  where  the  juncture  knits  the  channel  bone, 
The  furious  chief  discharged  the  craggy  stone ; 

The  bowstring  burst  beneath  the  ponderous  blow, 
And  his  numb’d  hand  dismiss’d  his  useless  bow.  396 
He  fell ;  but  Ajax  his  broad  shield  display’d, 

And  screen’d  his  brother  with  a  mighty  shade ; 

Till  great  Alastor  and  Mecistheus  bore 
The  batter’d  archer  groaning  to  the  shore.  400 
Troy  yet  found  grace  before  the  Olympian  sire ; 
He  arm’d  their  hands,  and  fill’d  their  breasts  with 
fire. 

The  Greeks,  repulsed,  retreat  behind  their  wall, 

Or  in  the  trench  on  heaps  confusedly  fall. 

First  of  the  foe,  great  Hector  march’d  along,  405 
With  terror  clothed,  and  more  than  mortal  strong. 
As  the  bold  hound,  that  gives  the  lion  chase, 

With  beating  bosom,  and  with  eager  pace, 

Hangs  on  his  haunch,  or  fastens  on  his  heels, 

Guards  as  he  turns,  and  circles  as  he  wheels  :  410 

Thus  oft  the  Grecians  turn’d,  but  still  they  flew; 
Thus  following  Hector  still  the  hindmost  slew. 
When  flying  they  had  pass’d  the  trench  profound, 
And  many  a  chief  lay  gasping  on  the  ground ; 

Before  the  ships  a  desperate  stand  they  made,  415 
And  fired  the  troops,  and  call’d  the  gods  to  aid. 
Fierce  on  his  rattling  chariot  Hector  came  ; 

His  eyes  like  Gorgon  shot  a  sanguine  flame 


202 


IIOMER. 


That  wither’d  all  their  host :  like  Mars  he  stood  ; 
Dire  as  the  monster,  dreadful  as  the  god !  420 

Their  strong  distress  the  wife  of  Jove  survey’d  ; 
Then  pensive  thus  to  war’s  triumphant  maid  : 

“  Oh  daughter  of  that  god  whose  arm  can  wield 
The  avenging  bolt,  and  shake  the  sable  shield  ! 

Now,  in  this  moment  of  her  last  despair,  425 

Shall  wretched  Greece  no  more  confess  our  care, 
Condemn’d  to  suffer  the  full  force  of  fate, 

And  drain  the  dregs  of  Heaven’s  relentless  hate  ? 
Gods !  shall  one  raging  hand  thus  level  all  1  429 

What  numbers  fell !  what  numbers  yet  shall  fall ! 
What  power  divine  shall  Hector’s  wrath  assuage? 
Still  swells  the  slaughter,  and  still  grows  the  rage  !” 

So  spake  the  imperial  regent  of  the  skies; 

To  whom  the  goddess  with  the  azure  eyes : 

“  Long  since  had  Hector  stain’d  these  fields  with 
gore,  435 

Stretch'd  by  some  Argive  on  his  native  shore  : 

But  he  above,  the  sire  of  Heaven,  withstands, 
Mocks  our  attempts,  and  slights  our  just  demands. 
The  stubborn  god,  inflexible  and  hard, 

Forgets  my  service  and  deserved  reward  :  440 

Saved  1,  for  this,  his  favourite  son  distress’d, 

By  stern  Eurystheus  with  long  labours  press’d  ? 

He  begg’d,  with  tears  he  begg’d,in  deep  dismay; 

I  shot  from  heaven,  and  gave  his  arm  the  day. 

Oh,  had  my  wisdom  known  this  dire  event,  445 
When  to  grim  Pluto’s  gloomy  gates  he  went ;  t 
The  triple  dog  had  never  felt  his  chain, 

Nor  Styx  been  cross’d,  nor  hell  explored  in  vain. 
Averse  to  me  of  all  his  heaven  of  gods, 

At  Thetis’  suit  the  partial  Thunderer  nods.  450 
To  grace  her  gloomy,  fierce,  resenting  son, 

My  hopes  are  frustrate,  and  my  Greeks  undone. 
Some  future  day,  perhaps,  he  may  be  moved 
To  call  his  blue-eyed  maid  his  best  beloved. 


441  Hercules. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VIII. 


203 


Haste,  launch  thy  chariot,  through  yon  ranks  to  ride  ; 
Myself  will  arm,  and  thunder  at  thy  side.  456 

Then,  goddess  !  say,  shall  Hector  glory  then, 

(That  terror  of  the  Greeks,  that  man  of  men,) 

When  Juno’s  self,  and  Pallas  shall  appear, 
All-dreadful  in  the  crimson  walks  of  war!  460 

What  mighty  Trojan  then,  on  yonder  shore, 
Expiring,  pale,  and  terrible  no  more, 

Shall  feast  the  fowls,  and  glut  the  dogs  with  gore 
She  ceased,  and  Juno  rein’d  the  steeds  with  care — 
(Heaven’s  awful  empress,  Saturn’s  other  heir.)  465 
Pallas,  meanwhile,  her  various  veil  unbound, 

With  flowers  adorn’d,  with  art  immortal  crown’d  ; 
The  radiant  robe  her  sacred  Angers  wove, 

Floats  in  rich  waves,  and  spreads  the  court  of  Jove. 
Her  father’s  arms  her  mighty  limbs  invest,  470 
His  cuirass  blazes  on  her  ample  breast. 

The  vigorous  power  the  trembling  car  ascends  ; 
Shook  by  her  arm,  the  massy  javelin  bends: 

Huge,  ponderous,  strong !  that,  when  her  fury  burns, 
Proud  tyrants  humbles,  and  whole  hosts  o’erturns. 

Saturnia  lends  the  lash ;  the  coursers  fly  ;  476 

Smooth  glides  the  chariot  through  the  liquid  sky. 
Heaven’s  gates  spontaneous  open  to  the  powers, 
Heaven’s  golden  gates,  kept  by  the  winged  Hours. 
Commission’d  in  alternate  watch  they  stand,  480 
The  sun’s  bright  portals  and  the  skies  command  ; 
Close  or  unfold  the  eternal  gates  of  day, 

Bar  heaven  with  clouds,  or  roll  those  clouds  away. 
The  sounding  hinges  ring,  the  clouds  divide  ; 

Prone  down  the  steep  of  heaven  their  course  they 
guide.  485 

But  Jove  incensed,  from  Ida’s  top  survey’d, 

And  thus  enjoin’d  the  many-colour’d  maid: 

“  Thaumantia !  mount  the  winds,  and  stop  their 
car; 

Against  the  highest  who  shall  wage  the  war  1 
If  furious  yet  they  dare  the  vain  debate, 

Thus  have  I  spoke,  and  what  I  speak  is  fate : 


490 


204 


HOMER. 


Their  coursers  crush’d  beneath  the  wheel  shall  lie, 
Their  car  in  fragments  scatter’d  o’er  the  sky ; 

My  lightning  these  rebellious  shall  confound, 

And  hurl  them  flaming,  headlong  to  the  ground,  495 
Condemn’d  for  ten  revolving  years  to  weep 
The  wounds  impress’d  by  burning  thunder  deep. 

So  shall  Minerva  learn  to  fear  our  ire, 

Nor  dare  to  combat  her’s  and  nature’s  sire. 

For  Juno,  headstrong  and  imperious  still,  500 

She  claims  some  title  to  transgress  our  will.” 

Swift  as  the  wind,  the  various-colour’d  maid 
From  Ida’s  top  her  golden  wings  display’d  ; 

To  great  Olympus’  shining  gates  she  flies,  504 
There  meets  the  chariot  rushing  down  the  skies, 
Restrains  their  progress  from  the  bright  abodes, 

And  speaks  the  mandate  of  the  sire  of  gods  : 

“  What  phrensy,  goddesses  !  what  rage  can  move 
Celestial  minds  to  tempt  the  wrath  of  Jove  ! 

Desist,  obedient  to  his  high  command  ;  510 

This  is  his  word ;  and  know,  his  word  shall  stand. 
His  lightning  your  rebellion  shall  confound, 

And  hurl  you  headlong,  flaming  to  the  ground : 

Your  horses  crush’d  beneath  the  wheels  shall  lie, 
Your  car  in  fragments  scatter’d  o’er  the  sky:  515 
Yourselves  condemn’d  ten  rolling  years  to  weep 
The  wounds  impress’d  by  burning  thunder  deep. 

So  shall  Minerva  learn  to  fear  his  ire, 

Nor  dare  to  combat  her’s  and  nature’s  sire. 

For  Juno,  headstrong  and  imperious  still,  520 

She  claims  some  title  to  transgress  his  will : 

But  thee  what  desperate  insolence  has  driven,” 

To  lift  thy  lance  against  the  king  of  heaven! 

Then,  mounting  on  the  pinions  of  the  wind, 

She  flew  ;  and  Juno  thus  her  rage  resign’d :  525 

“  Oh  daughter  of  that  god,  whose  arm  can  wield 
The  avenging  bolt,  and  shake  the  dreadful  shield  ! 
No  more  let  beings  of  superior  birth 
Contend  with  Jove  for  this  low  race  of  earth: 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VIII.  205 

Triumphant  now,  now  miserably  slain,  530 

They  breathe  or  perish  as  the  fates  ordain. 

But  Jove’s  high  counsels  full  effect  shall  find ; 

And,  ever  constant,  ever  rule  mankind.” 

She  spoke,  and  backward  turn’d  her  steeds  of 
light,  534 

Adorn’d  with  manes  of  gold,  and  heavenly  bright. 
The  Hours  unloosed  them,  panting  as  they  stood, 
And  heap’d  their  mangers  with  ambrosial  food. 
There  tied,  they  rest  in  high  celestial  stalls ; 

The  chariot  propp’d  against  the  crystal  walls. 

The  pensive  goddesses,  abashed,  controll’d,  540 

Mix  with  the  gods,  and  fill  their  seats  of  gold. 

And  now  the  Thunderer  meditates  his  flight 
From  Ida’s  summits  to  the  Olympian  height. 

Swifter  than  thought  the  wheels  instinctive  fly,  544 
Flame  through  the  vast  of  air,  and  reach  the  sky. 
’Twas  Neptune’s  charge  his  coursers  to  unbrace, 
And  fix  the  car  on  its  immortal  base ; 

There  stood  the  chariot  beaming  forth  its  rays, 

Till  with  a  snowy  veil  he  screen’d  the  blaze. 

He,  whose  all-conscious  eyes  the  world  behold,  550 
The  eternal  Thunderer,  sat  throned  in  gold. 

High  heaven  the  footstool  of  his  feet  he  makes, 

And  wide  beneath  him  all  Olympus  shakes. 
Trembling  afar  the  offended  powers  appear’d, 
Confused  and  silent,  for  his  frown  they  fear’d.  555 
He  saw  their  soul,  and  thus  his  word  imparts  : 

Pallas  and  Juno  !  say,  why  heave  your  hearts'? 

Soon  was  your  battle  o’er :  proud  Troy  retired 
Before  your  face,  and  in  your  wrath  expired. 

But  know,  whoe’er  almighty  power  withstand,  560 
Unmatched  our  force,  unconquer’d  is  our  hand  : 

Who  shall  the  sovereign  of  the  skies  control? 

Not  all  the  gods  that  crown  the  starry  pole. 

Your  hearts  shall  tremble,  if  our  arms  we  take, 

And  each  immortal  nerve  with  horror  shake.  565 
For  thus  1  speak,  and  what  I  speak  shall  stand  ; 
What  power  soe’er  provokes  our  lifted  hand, 
hom. — i. — s 


206 


HOMER. 


On  this  our  hill  no  more  shall  hold  his  place ; 

Cut  off,  and  exiled  from  the  ethereal  race. 

Juno  and  Pallas  grieving  hear  the  doom,  570 
But  feast  their  souls  on  Ilion’s  woes  to  come, 
Though  secret  anger  swell’d  Minerva’s  breast, 

The  prudent  goddess  yet  her  wrath  repress’d  : 

But  Juno,  impotent  of  rage,  replies : 

“  What  hast  thou  said,  oh  tyrant  of  the  skies?  575 
Strength  and  omnipotence  invest  thy  throne ; 

’Tis  thine  to  punish  ;  ours  to  grieve  alone. 

For  Greece  we  grieve,  abandon’d  by  her  fate, 

To  drink  the  dregs  of  thy  unmeasured  hate  ; 

From  fields  forbidden  we  submiss  refrain,  580 

With  arms  unaiding  see  our  Argives  slain; 

Yet  grant  our  counsels  still  their  breasts  may  move, 
Lest  all  should  perish  in  the  rage  of  Jove.” 

The  goddess  thus:  and  thus  the  god  replies, 

Who  swells  the  clouds,  and  blackens  all  the  skies  : 

“  The  morning  sun,  awaked  by  loud  alarms,  586 
Shall  see  the  almighty  Thunderer  in  arms. 

What  heaps  of  Argives  then  shall  load  the  plain, 
Those  radiant  eyes  shall  view,  and  view  in  vain. 
Nor  shall  great  Hector  cease  the  rage  of  fight,  590 
The  navy  flaming,  and  thy  Greeks  in  flight, 

Ev’n  till  the  day,  when  certain  fates  ordain 
That  stern  Achilles  (his  Patroclus  slain) 

Shall  rise  in  vengeance,  and  lay  waste  the  plain. 
For  such  is  fate,  nor  canst  thou  turn  its  course  595 
With  all  thy  rage,  with  all  thy  rebel  force. 

Fly,  if  thou  wilt,  to  earth’s  remotest  bound, 

Where  on  her  utmost  verge  the  seas  resound; 

Where  cursed  Iapetus  and  Saturn  dwell, 

Fast  by  the  brink,  within  the  streams  of  hell ;  600 

No  sun  e’er  gilds  the  gloomy  horrors  there ; 

No  cheerful  gales  refresh  the  lazy  air; 

There  arm  once  more  the  bold  Titanian  band ; 

And  arm  in  vain;  for  what  I  will  shall  stand.” 

Now  deep  in  ocean  sunk  the  lamp  of  light,  605 
And  drew  behind  the  cloudy  veil  of  night : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  VIII.  201 

The  conquering  Trojans  mourn  his  beams  decay’d; 
The  Greeks  rejoicing  bless  the  friendly  shade. 

The  victors  keep  the  field ;  and  Hector  calls 
A  martial  council  near  the  navy  walls:  610 

These  to  Scamander’s  bank  apart  he  led, 

Where  thinly  scatter’d  lay  the  heaps  of  dead. 

The  assembled  chiefs,  descending  on  the  ground, 
Attend  his  order,  and  their  prince  surround. 

A  massy  spear  he  bore  of  mighty  strength,  615 
Of  full  ten  cubits  was  the  lance’s  length  ; 

The  point  was  brass,  refulgent  to  behold, 

Fix’d  to  the  wood  with  circling  rings  of  gold : 

The  noble  Hector  on  his  lance  reclined, 

And  bending  forward,  thus  reveal’d  his  mind :  620 

“  Ye  valiant  Trojans,  with  attention  hear  ! 

Ye  Dardan  bands,  and  generous  aids,  give  ear! 

This  day,  we  hoped,  would  wrap  in  conquering  flame 
Greece  with  her  ships,  and  crown  our  toils  with  fame. 
But  darkness  now,  to  save  the  cowards,  falls,  625 
And  guards  them  trembling  in  their  wooden  walls. 
Obey  the  night,  and  use  her  peaceful  hours 
Our  steeds  to  forage,  and  refresh  our.  powers. 
Straight  from  the  town  be  sheep  and  oxen  sought, 
And  strengthening  bread  and  generous  wine  be 
brought.  630 

Wide  o’er  the  field,  high  blazing  to  the  sky, 

Let  numerous  fires  the  absent  sun  supply, 

The  flaming  piles  with  plenteous  fuel  raise, 

Till  the  bright  morn  her  purple  beam  displays, 

Lest,  in  the  silence  and  the  shades  of  night,  635 
Greece  in  her  sable  ships  attempt  her  flight. 

Not  unmolested  let  the  wretches  gain 
Their  lofty  decks,  or  safely  cleave  the  main  ; 

Some  hostile  wound  let  every  dart  bestow, 

Some  lasting  token  of  the  Phrygian  foe,  640 

Wounds  that  long  hence  may  ask  their  spouses’ 
care, 

And  warn  their  children  from  a  Trojan  war. 


208 


HOMER. 


Now  through  the  circuit  of  our  Ilion  wall 
Let  sacred  heralds  sound  the  solemn  call ; 

To  bid  the  sires  with  hoary  honours  crown’d,  645 
And  beardless  youths,  our  battlements  surround. 
Firm  be  the  guard,  while  distant  lie  our  powers, 

And  let  the  matrons  hang  with  lights  the  towers  ; 
Lest,  under  covert  of  the  midnight  shade, 

The  insidious  foe  the  naked  town  invade.  650 

Suffice,  to-night,  these  orders  to  obey; 

A  nobler  charge  shall  rouse  the  dawning  day. 

The  gods,  I  trust,  shall  give  to  Hector’s  hand, 

From  these  detested  foes  to  free  the  land, 

Who  plough’d,  with  fates  averse,  the  wat’ry  way. 
For  Trojan  vultures  a  predestined  prey.  656 

Our  common  safety  must  be  now  the  care ; 

But  soon  as  morning  paints  the  fields  of  air, 
Sheathed  in  bright  arms  let  every  troop  engage, 

And  the  fired  fleet  behold  the  battle  rage.  660 

Then,  then  shall  Hector  and  Tydides  prove 
Whose  fates  are  heaviest  in  the  scale  of  Jove. 
To-morrow’s  light  (oh  haste  the  gloriest  morn!) 
Shall  see  his  bloody  spoils  in  triumph  borne, 

With  this  keen  javelin  shall  his  breast  be  gored,  565 
And  prostrate  heroes  bleed  around  their  lord. 

Certain  as  this,  oh !  might  my  days  endure, 

From  age  inglorious,  and  black  death  secure  ; 

So'  might  my  life  and  glory  know  no  bound, 

Like  Pallas  worshipp’d,  like  the  sun  renown’d  ;  670 
As  the  next  dawn,  the  last  they  shall  enjoy, 

Shall  crush  the  Greeks,  and  end  the  woes  of  Troy.” 

The  leader  spoke.  From  all  his  host  around 
Shouts  of  applause  along  the  shores  resound. 

Each  from  the  yoke  the  smoking  steeds  untied,  675 
And  fixed  their  headstalls  to  his  chariot  side. 

Fat  sheep  and  oxen  from  the  town  are  led, 

With  generous  wine,  and  all-sustaining  bread. 

Full  hecatombs  lay  burning  on  the  shore  ; 

The  winds  to  heaven  the  curling  vapours  bore.  680 


ILIAD. — BOOK  VIII. 


209 


Ungrateful  offering  to  the  immortal  powers, 

Whose  wrath  hung  heavy  o’er  the  Trojan  towers ; 
Nor  Priam  nor  his  sons  obtain’d  their  grace; 

Proud  Troy  they  hated,  and  her  guilty  race. 

The  troops  exulting  sat  in  order  round,  685 

And  beaming  fires  illumined  all  the  ground. 

As  when  the  moon,  refulgent  lamp  of  night! 

O’er  heaven’s  clear  azure  spreads  her  sacred  light, 
When  not  a  breath  disturbs  the  deep  serene, 

And  not  a  cloud  o’ercasts  the  solemn  scene;  690 
Around  her  throne  the  vivid  planets  roll, 

And  stars  unnumber’d  gild  the  glowing  pole, 

O’er  the  dark  trees  a  yellower  verdure  shed, 

And  tip  with  silver  every  mountain’s  head ; 

Then  shine  the  vales,  the  rocks  in  prospect  rise,  695 
A  flood  of  glory  bursts  from  all  the  skies : 

The  conscious  swains,  rejoicing  in  the  sight, 

Eye  the  blue  vault,  and  bless  the  useful  light. 

So  many  flames  before  proud  Ilion  blaze, 

And  lighten  glimmering  Xanthus  with  their  rays : 
The  long  reflections  of  the  distant  fires  701 

Gleam  on  the  walls,  and  tremble  on  the  spires. 

A  thousand  piles  the  dusky  horrors  gild, 

And  shoot  a  shady  lustre  o’er  the  field. 

Full  fifty  guards  each  flaming  pile  attend,  705 

Whose  umber’d  arms,  by  fits,  thick  flashes  send; 
Loud  neigh  the  coursers  o’er  their  heaps  of  corn, 
And  ardent  warriors  wait  the  rising  morn. 

s2 


BOOK  IX. 


ARGUMENT. 

The  Embassy  to  Achilles. 

Agamemnon,  after  the  last  day’s  defeat,  proposes  to  the  Greeks 
to  quit  the  siege,  and  return  to  their  country — Diomed  opposes 
this,  and  Nestor  seconds  him,  praising  his  wisdom  and  resolu¬ 
tion— He  orders  the  guard  to  be  strengthened,  and  a  council 
summoned  to  deliberate  what  measures  are  to  be  followed  in 
this  emergency — Agamemnon  pursues  this  advice,  and  Nes¬ 
tor  further  prevails  on  him  to  send  ambassadors  to  Achilles, 
in  order  to  move  him  to  a  reconciliation — Ulysses  and  Ajax 
are  made  choice  of,  who  are  accompanied  by  old  Phoenix — 
They  make,  each  of  them,  very  moving  and  pressing  speeches, 
DUt  are  rejected  with  roughness  by  Achilles,  who,  notwith¬ 
standing,  retains  Phoenix  in  his  tent — The  ambassadors  return 
unsuccessfully  to  the  camp,  and  the  troops  betake  them¬ 
selves  to  sleep.— [This  book,  and  the  next  following,  take  up 
the  space  of  one  night,  which  is  the  twenty-seventh  from  the 
beginning  of  the  poem.  The  scene  lies  on  the  seashore,  the 
station  of  the  Grecian  ships.] 


Thus  joyful  Troy  maintain’d  the  watch  of  night  : 
While  fear,  pale  comrade  of  the  inglorious  flight, 
And'heaven-bred  horror,  on  the  Grecian  part, 

Sat  on  each  face,  and  sadden’d  every  heart, 

As,  from  its  cloudy  dungeon  issuing  forth,  5 

A  double  tempest  of  the  west  and  north 
Swells  o’er  the  sea,  from  Thracia’s  frozen  shore, 
Heaps  waves  on  waves,  and  bids  the  Aegean  roar; 
This  way  and  that  the  boiling  deeps  are  toss’d ; 

Such  various  passions  urged  the  troubled  host.  10 
Great  Agamemnon  grieved  above  the  rest: 

Superior  sorrows  swell’d  his  royal  breast ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


211 


Himself  his  orders  to  the  heralds  bears, 

To  bid  to  council  all  the  Grecian  peers, 

But  bid  in  whispers :  these  surround  their  chief,  15 
In  solemn  sadness,  and  majestic  grief. 

The  king  amid  the  mournful  circle  rose ; 

Down  his  wan  cheek  a  briny  torrent  flows : 

So  silent  fountains,  from  a  rock’s  tall  head, 

In  sable  streams  soft-trickling  waters  shed.  20 
With  more  than  vulgar  grief  he  stood  oppress’d  ; 
Words,  mix’d  with  sighs,  thus  bursting  from  his 
breast: 

“Ye  sons  of  Greece!  partake  your  leader’s  care; 
Fellows  in  arms,  and  princes  of  the  war ! 

Of  partial  Jove  too  justly  we  complain,  25 

And  heavenly  oracles  believed  in  vain. 

A  safe  return  was  promised  to  our  toils, 

With  conquest  honour’d,  and  enrich’d  with  spoils: 
Now  shameful  flight  alone  can  save  the  host ; 

Our  wealth,  our  people,  and  our  glory  lost.  30 

So  Jove  decrees,  almighty  lord  of  all! 

Jove,  at  whose  nod  whole  empires  rise  or  fall, 

Who  shakes  the  feeble  props  of  human  trust. 

And  towers  and  armies  humbles  to  the  dust. 

Haste  then,  for  ever  quit  these  fatal  fields,  35 

Haste  to  the  joys  our  native  country  yields; 

Spread  all  your  canvass,  all  your  oars  employ, 

Nor  hope  the  fall  of  Heaven-defended  Troy.” 

He  said :  deep  silence  held  the  Grecian  band ; 
Silent,  unmoved,  in  dire  dismay  they  stand,  40 
A  pensive  scene !  till  Tydeus’  warlike  son 
Roll’d  on  the  king  his  eyes,  and  thus  begun: 

“  When  kings  advise  us  to  renounce  our  fame, 
First  let  him  speak,  who  first  has  suffer’d  shame. 

If  I  oppose  thee,  prince,  thy  wrath  withhold,  45 
The  laws  of  council  bid  my  tongue  be  bold. 

Thou  first,  and  thou  alone,  in  fields  of  fight. 

Durst  brand  my  courage,  and  defame  my  might: 

Nor  from  a  friend  the  unkind  reproach  appear’d, 
The  Greeks  stood  witness,  all  our  army  heard.  50 


212 


HOMER. 


The  gods,  oh  chief !  from  whom  our  honours  spring, 
The  gods  have  made  thee  but  by  halves  a  king. 
They  gave  thee  sceptres,  and  a  wide  command, 
They  gave  dominion  o’er  the  seas  and  land  ; 

The  noblest  power  that  might  the  world  control  55 
They  gave  thee  not — a  brave  and  virtuous  soul. 

Is  this  a  general’s  voice,  that  would  suggest 
Fears  like  his  own  to  every  Grecian  breast  1 
Confiding  in  our  want  of  worth,  he  stands; 

And  if  we  fly,  ’tis  what  our  king  commands.  60 
Go  thou,  inglorious,  from  the  embattled  plain; 

Ships  thou  h^st  store,  and  nearest  to  the  main  ; 

A  nobler  care  the  Grecians  shall  employ, 

To  combat,  conquer,  and  extirpate  Troy. 

Here  Greece  shall  stay  ;  or  if  all  Greece  retire,  65 
Myself  will  stay,  till  Troy  or  I  expire  ; 

Myself  and  Sthenelus  will  fight  for  fame  ; 

God  bade  us  fight,  and  ’twas  with  God  we  came.” 

He  ceased ;  the  Greeks  loud  acclamations  raise. 
And  voice  to  voice  resounds  Tydides’  praise.  70 
Wise  Nestor  then  his  reverend  figure  rear’d  ; 

He  spoke  ;  the  host  in  still  attention  heard : 

“  Oh,  truly  great !  in  whom  the  gods  have  join’d 
Such  strength  of  body  with  such  force  of  mind ; 

In  conduct,  as  in  courage,  you  excel,  75 

Still  first  to  act  what  you  advise  so  well. 

Those  wholesome  counsels  which  thy  wisdom  moves, 
Applauding  Greece  with  common  voice  approves. 
Kings  thou  canst  blame  ;  a  bold  but  prudent  youth ; 
And  blame  ev’n  kings  with  praise,  because  with  truth. 
And  yet  those  years  that  since  thy  birth  have  run  81 
Would  hardly  style  thee  Nestor’s  youngest  son. 
Then  let  me  add  what  yet  remains  behind, 

A  thought  unfinish’d  in  that  generous  mind ; 

Age  bids  me  speak ;  nor  shall  the  advice  I  bring  85 
Distaste  the  people  or  offend  the  king: 

“  Cursed  is  the  man,  and  void  of  law  and  right, 
Unworthy  property,  unworthy  light. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


213 


Unfit  for  public  rule,  or  private  care ; 

That  wretch, that  monster,  who  delights  in  war:  90 
Whose  lust  is  murder,  and  whose  horrid  joy, 

To  tear  his  country,  and  his  kind  destroy  ! 

This  night,  refresh  and  fortify  thy  train ; 

Between  the  trench  and  wall  let  guards  remain  : 

Be  that  the  duty  of  the  young  and  bold  ;  95 

But  thou,  oh  king!  to  council  call  the  old  : 

Great  is  thy  sway,  and  weighty  are  thy  cares; 

Thy  high  commands  must  spirit  all  our  wars. 

With  Thracian  wines  recruit  thy  honour’d  guests, 
For  happy  counsels  flow  from  sober  feasts.  100 
Wise,  weighty  counsels  aid  a  state  distress’d, 

And  such  a  monarch  as  can  choose  the  best. 

See  !  w’hat  a  blaze  from  hostile  tents  aspires, 

How  near  our  fleet  approach  the  Trojan  fires ! 

WTho  can,  unmoved,  behold  the  dreadful  light  1  105 

What  eye  beholds  them,  and  can  close  to-night1? 
This  dreadful  interval  determines  all ; 

To-morrow  Troy  must  flame,  or  Greece  must  fall.” 

Thus  spoke  the  hoary  sage  :  the  rest  obey  ; 

Swift  through  the  gates  the  guards  direct  their  way. 
His  son  was  first  to  pass  the  lofty  mound,  111 
The  generous  Thrasymed,  in  arms  renown’d; 

Next  him,  Ascalaphus,  lalmen,  stood, 

The  double  offspring  of  the  warrior  god. 

Deipyrus,  Aphareus,  Merionjoin,  115 

And  Lycomed,  of  Creon’s  noble  line. 

Seven  were  the  leaders  of  the  nightly  bands, 

And  each  bold  chief  a  hundred  spears  commands. 
The  fires  they  light,  to  short  repasts  they  fall, 

Some  line  the  trench,  and  others  man  the  wall.  120 
The  king  of  men,  on  public  counsels  bent, 
Convened  the  princes  in  his  ample  tent ; 

Each  seized  a  portion  of  the  kingly  feast, 

But  stay’d  his  hand  when  thirst  and  hunger  ceased. 
Then  Nestor  spoke,  for  wisdom  long  approved,  125 
And,  slowly  rising,  thus  the  council  moved : 


214 


HOMER. 


“  Monarch  of  nations  !  whose  superior  sway 
Assembled  states  and  lords  of  earth  obey, 

The  laws  and  sceptres  to  thy  hand  are  given, 

And  millions  own  the  care  of  thee  and  Heaven.  130 
Oh  king  !  the  counsels  of  my  age  attend  ; 

With  thee  my  cares  begin,  in  thee  must  end  ; 

Thee,  prince !  it  fits  alike  to  speak  and  hear, 
Pronounce  with  judgment,  with  regard  give  ear, 

To  see  no  wholesome  motion  be  withstood,  135 
And  ratify  the  best  for  public  good. 

Nor,  though  a  meaner  give  advice,  repine, 

But  follow  it,  and  make  the  wisdom  thine. 

Hear  then  a  thought,  not  now  conceived  in  haste, 

At  once  my  present  judgment,  and  my  past.  140 
When  from  Pelides’  tent  you  forced  the  maid, 

1  first  opposed,  and  faithful  durst  dissuade  ; 

But  bold  of  soul,  when  headlong  fury  fired, 

You  wrong’d  the  man,  by  men  and  gods  admired: 
Now  seek  some  means  his  fatal  wrath  to  end,  145 
With  prayers  to  move  him,  or  with  gifts  to  bend.” 

To  whom  the  king:  “  With  justice  hast  thou  shown 
A  prince’s  faults,  and  I  with  reason  own. 

That  happy  man,  whom  Jove  still  honours  most, 

Is  more  than  armies,  and  himself  a  host.  150 

Bless’d  in  his  love,  this  wondrous  hero  stands, 
Heaven  fights  his  war,  and  humbles  all  our  bands. 
Fain  would  my  heart,  which  err’d  through  frantic 
rage. 

The  wrathful  chief  and  angry  gods  assuage. 

If  gifts  immense  his  mighty  soul  can  bow,  155 
Hear,  all  ye  Greeks,  and  witness  what  I  vow  • 

Ten  weighty  talents  of  the  purest  gold, 

And  twice  ten  vases  of  refulgent  mould  ; 

Seven  sacred  tripods,  whose  unsullied  frame 
Yet  knows  no  office,  nor  hast  felt  the  flame  ;  160 

Twelve  steeds  unmatch’d  in  fleetness  and  in  force. 
And  still  victorious  in  the  dusty  course ; 

(Rich  were  the  man  whose  ample  stores  exceed 
The  prizes  purchased  by  their  winged  speed ;) 


ILIAD. — BOOK  IX.  215 

Seven  lovely  captives  of  the  Lesbian  line,  165 
Skill’d  m  each  art,  unmatch’d  in  form  divine — 

The  same  I  chose  for  more  than  vulgar  charms, 
When  Lesbos  sunk  beneath  the  hero’s  arms: 

All  these,  to  buy  his  friendship  shall  be  paid, 

And  join’d  with  these,  the  long-contested  maid;  170 
With  all  her  charms,  Briseis  l  resign, 

And  solemn  swear  those  charms  were  never  mine ; 
Lhitouch’d  she  stay’d,  uninjured  she  removes, 

Pure  from  my  arms,  and  guiltless  of  my  loves. 
These  instant  shall  be  his :  and  if  the  powers  175 
Give  to  our  arms  proud  llion’s  hostile  towers, 

Then  shall  he  store  (when  Greece  the  spoil  divides) 
With  gold  and  brass  his  loaded  navy’s  sides. 
Besides,  full  twenty  nymphs  of  Trojan  race  179 
With  copious  love  shall  crown  his  warm  embrace, 
Such  as  himself  will  choose;  who  yield  to  none. 

Or  yield  to  Helen’s  heavenly  charms  alone. 

Yet  hear  me  further:  when  our  wars  are  o’er, 

If  safe  we  land  on  Argos’  fruitful  shore, 

There  shall  he  live  my  son,  our  honours  share,  185 
And  with  Orestes’  self  divide  my  care. 

Yet  more — three  daughters  in  my  court  are  bred, 
And  each  well  worthy  of  a  royal  bed; 

Laodice  and  Iphigenia  fair, 

And  bright  Chrysothemis  with  golden  hair ;  190 

Her  let  him  choose,  whom  most  his  eyes  approve; 

I  ask  no  presents,  no  reward  for  love : 

Myself  will  give  the  dower  ;  so  vast  a  store 
As  never  father  gave  a  child  before. 

Seven  ample  cities  shall  confess  his  sway,  195 
Him  Enope,  and  Pherae  him  obey, 

Cardamyle,  with  ample  turrets  crown’d, 

And  sacred  Pedasus,  for  vines  renown’d ; 

JEpee.  fair,  the  pastures  Hira  yields, 

And  rich  Antheia,  with  her  flowery  fields :  200 

The  whole  extent  to  Pylos’  sandy  plain, 

Along  the  verdant  margin  of  the  main : 


216 


HOMER. 


There  heifers  graze,  and  lab’ring  oxen  toil ;  # 

Bold  are  the  men,  and  gen’rous  is  the  soil ; 

There  shall  he  reign  with  power  and  justice  crown’d, 
And  rule  the  tributary  realms  around.  206 

All  this  I  give,  his  vengeance  to  control, 

And  sure  all  this  may  move  his  mighty  soul. 

Pluto,  the  grisly  god,  who  never  spares, 

Who  feels  no  mercy,  and  who  hears  no  prayers,  210 
Lives  dark  and  dreadful  in  deep  hell’s  abodes, 

And  mortals  hate  him  as  the  worst  of  gods. 

Great  though  he  be,  it  fits  him  to  obey ; 

Since  more  than  his  my  years,  and  more  my  sway.” 

The  monarch  thus :  the  reverend  Nestor  then  : 

“  Great  Agamemnon  !  glorious  king  of  men !  216 

Such  are  thy  offers  as  a  prince  may  take, 

And  such  as  fits  a  gen’rous  king  to  make. 

Let  chosen  delegates  this  hour  be  sent 

(Myself  will  name  them)  to  Pelides’  tent :  220 

Let  Phoenix  lead,  revered  for  hoary  age, 

Great  Ajax  next,  and  Ithacus  the  sage. 

Yet  more  to  sanctify  the  word  you  send, 

Let  Hodius  and  Eurybates  attend. 

Now  pray  to  Jove  to  grant  what  Greece  demands; 
Pray  in  deep  silence,  and  with  purest  hands.”  226 
He  said,  and  all  approved.  The  heralds  bring 
The  cleansing  water  from  the  living  spring. 

The  youth  with  wine  the  sacred  goblets  crown’d, 
And  large  libations  drench’d  the  sands  around.  230 
The  rite  perform’d,  the  chiefs  their  thirst  allay, 
Then  from  the  royal  tent  they  take  their  way: 

Wise  Nestor  turns  on  each  his  careful  eye, 

Forbids  to  offend,  instructs  them  to  apply  : 

Much  he  advised  them  all,  Ulysses  most,  235 

To  deprecate  the  chief,  and  save  the  host. 

Through  the  still  night  they  march,  and  hear  the 
roar 

Of  murmuring  billows  on  the  sounding  shore. 

To  Neptune,  ruler  of  the  seas  profound, 

Whose  liquid  arms  the  mighty  globe  surround,  240 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


217 


They  pour  forth  vows,  their  embassy  to  bless. 

And  calm  the  rage  of  stern  jEacides. 

And  now  arrived,  where,  on  the  sandy  bay 
The  Myrmidonian  tents  and  vessels  lay  ; 

Amused  at  ease,  the  godlike  man  they  found,  245 
Pleased  with  the  solemn  harp’s  harmonious  sound. 
(The  well-wrought  harp  from  conquer’d  Thebaj 
came, 

Of  polish’d  silver  was  its  costly  frame.) 

With  this  he  soothes  his  angry  soul,  and  sings 
The  immortal  deeds  of  heroes  and  of  kings.  250 
Patroelus  only  of  the  royal  train, 

Placed  in  his  tent,  attends  the  lofty  strain : 

Full  opposite  he  sat,  and  listen’d  long, 

In  silence  waiting  till  he  ceased  the  song. 

Unseen  the  Grecian  embassy  proceeds  255 

To  his  high  tent;  the  great  Ulysses  leads. 

Achilles  starting,  as  the  chiefs  he  spied, 

Leap’d  from  his  seat,  and  laid  the  harp  aside. 

With  like  surprise  arose  Mencetius’  son: 

Pelides  grasp’d  their  hands,  and  thus  begun :  260 

“  Princes,  all  hail !  whatever  brought  you  here, 

Or  strong  necessity,  or  urgent  fear ; 

Welcome,  though  Greeks !  for  not  as  foes  ye  came ; 
To  me  more  dear  than  all  that  bear  the  name.” 

With  that,  the  chiefs  beneath  his  roof  he  led,  265 
And  placed  in  seats  with  purple  carpets  spread. 
Then  thus  :  “  Patroelus,  crown  a  larger  bowl,  • 

Mix  purer  wine,  and  open  every  soul. 

Of  all  the  warriors  yonder  host  can  send, 

Thy  friend  most  honours  these,  and  these  thy  friend.” 

He  said :  Patroelus  o’er  the  blazing  fire  271 
Heaps  in  a  brazen  vase  three  chines  entire : 

The  brazen  vase  Automedon  sustains, 

Which  flesh  of  porket,  sheep,  and  goat  contains : 
Achilles  at  the  genial  feast  presides,  275 

The  parts  transfixes,  and  with  skill  divides. 
Meanwhile  Patroelus  sweats  the  fire  to  raise  ; 

The  tent  is  brighten’d  with  the  rising  blaze : 

hom. — i. — T 


218 


HOMER. 


Then,  when  the  languid  flames  at  length  subside, 
He  strews  a  bed  of  glowing  embers  wide,  280 

Above  the  coals  the  smoking  fragments  turns, 

And  sprinkles  sacred  salt  from  lifted  urns; 

With  bread  the  glittering  canisters  they  load, 
Which  round  the  board  Mencetius’  son  bestow’d  : 
Himself,  opposed  to  Ulysses,  full  in  sight,  285 
Each  portion  parts,  and  orders  every  rite. 

The  first  fat  offerings,  to  the  immortals  due, 

Amid  the  greedy  flames  Patroclus  threw ; 

Then  each,  indulging  in  the  social  feast, 

His  thirst  and  hunger  soberly  repress’d.  290 

That  done,  to  Phoenix  Ajax  gave  the  sign ; 

Not  unperceived ;  Ulysses  crown’d  with  wine 
The  foaming  bowl,  and  instant  thus  began, 

His  speech  addressing  to  the  godlike  man  : 

“  Health  to  Achilles !  happy  are  thy  guests !  295 
Not  those  more  honour’d  whom  Atrides  feasts : 
Though  generous  plenty  crown  your  loaded  boards, 
That  Agamemnon’s  regal  tent  affords  ; 

But  greater  cares  sit  heavy  on  our  souls, 

Not  eased  by  banquets  or  by  flowing  bowls.  300 
What  scenes  of  slaughter  in  your  fields  appear ! 

The  dead  we  mourn,  and  for  the  living  fear ; 

Greece  on  the  brink  of  fate  all  doubtful  stands, 

And  owns  no  help  but  from  thy  saving  hands : 

Troy  and  her  aids  for  ready  vengeance  call ;  305 

Their  threatening  tents  already  shade  our  wall : 
Hear  how  with- shouts  their  conquest  they  proclaim, 
And  point  at  every  ship  their  vengeful  flame  ! 

For  them  the  father  of  the  gods  declares, 

Theirs  are  his  omens,  and  his  thunder  theirs.  310 
Gee,  full  of  Jove,  avenging  Hector  rise  ! 

See  !  Heaven  and  earth  the  raging  chief  defies ; 
What  fury  in  his  breast,  what  lightning  in  his  eyes ! 
He  waits  but  for  the  morn,  to  sink  in  flame 
The  ships,  the  Greeks,  and  all  the  Grecian  name.  315 
Heavens !  how  my  country’s  woes  distract  my  mind, 
Lest  fate  accomplish  all  his  rage  design’d.* 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


219 


And  must  we,  gods  !  our  heads  inglorious  lay 
In  Trojan  dust,  and  this  the  fatal  day  ? 

Return,  Achilles !  oh  return,  though  late,  320 

To  save  thy  Greeks,  and  stop  the  course  of  fate ; 

If  in  that  heart  or  grief  or  courage  lies, 

Rise  to  redeem ;  ah  yet,  to  conquer,  rise ! 

The  day  may  come,  when  all  our  warriors  slain, 
That  heart  shall  melt,  that  courage  rise  in  vain.  325 
Regard  in  time,  oh  prince  divinely  brave ! 

Those  wholesome  counsels  which  thy  father  gave. 
When  Peleus  in  his  aged  arms  embraced 
His  parting  son,  these  accents  were  his  last : 

‘  My  child !  with  strength,  with  glory,  and  success, 
Thy  arms  may  Juno  and  Minerva  bless !  331 

Trust  that  to  Heaven ;  but  thou,  thy  cares  engage 
To  calm  thy  passions  and  subdue  thy  rage  : 

From  gentler  manners  let  thy  glory  grow, 

And  shun  contention,  the  sure  source  of  wo ;  335 

That  young  and  old  may  in  thy  praise  combine, 

The  virtues  of  humanity  be  thine.* 

This,  now  despised,  advice  thy  father  gave ; 

Ah !  check  thy  anger,  and  be  truly  brave. 

If  thou  wilt  yield  to  great  Atrides’  prayers,  340 
Gifts  worthy  thee  his  royal  hands  prepares; 

If  not — but  hear  me,  while  I  number  o’er 
The  proffer’d  presents,  and  exhaustless  store. 

Ten  weighty  talents  of  the  purest  gold, 

And  twice  ten  vases  of  refulgent  mould  ;  345 

Seven  sacred  tripods,  whose  unsullied  frame 
Yet  knows  no  office,  nor  has  felt  the  flame  ; 

Twelve  steeds  unmatch’d  in  fleetness  and  in  force, 
And  still  victorious  in  the  dusty  course ; 

(Rich  were  the  man  whose  ample  stores  exceed  350 
The  prizes  purchased  by  their  winged  speed ;) 

Seven  lovely  captives  of  the  Lesbian  line, 

Skill'd  in  each  art,  unmatch’d  in  form  divine — 

The  same  he  chose  for  more  than  vulgar  charms, 
When  Lesbos  sunk  beneath  thy  conquering  arms. 


220 


HOMER. 


All  these,  to  buy  thy  friendship  shall  be  paid,  356 
And  join’d  with  these,  the  long-contested  maid; 
With  all  her  charms,  Briseis  he’ll  resign, 

And  solemn  swear  those  charms  were  only  thine ; 
Untouch’d  she  stay’d,  uninjured  she  removes,  360 
Pure  from  his  arms,  and  guiltless  of  his  loves. 

These  instant  shall  be  thine  ;  and  if  the  powers 
Give  to  our  arms  proud  Ilion’s  hostile  towers, 

Then  shalt  thou  store,  when  Greece  the  spoil  divides, 
With  gold  and  brass  thy  loaded  navy’s  sides.  365 
Besides,  full  twenty  nymphs  of  Trojan  race 
With  copious  love  shall  crown  thy  warm  embrace; 
Such  as  thyself  shalt  choose ;  who  yield  to  none, 

Or  yield  to  Helen’s  heavenly  charms  alone. 

Yet  hear  me  further:  when  our  wars  are  o’er,  370 
If  safe  we  land  on  Argos’  fruitful  shore, 

There  shalt  thou  live  his  son,  his  honours  share, 
And  with  Orestes’  self  divide  his  care. 

Yet  more — three  daughters  in  his  court  are  bred, 
And  each  well  worthy  of  a  royal  bed ;  375 

Laodice  and  Iphigenia  fair, 

And  bright  Chrysothemis  with  golden  hair ; 

Her  shalt  thou  wed  whom  most  thy  eyes  approve, 
He  asks  no  presents,  no  reward  for  love: 

Himself  will  give  the  dower;  so  vast  a  store  380 
As  never  father  gave  a  child  before. 

Seven  ample  cities  shall  confess  thy  sway, 

Thee  Enope,  and  Pherae  thee  obey, 

Cardamyle,  with  ample  turrets  crown’d, 

And  sacred  Pedasus  for  vines  renown’d ;  385 

Alpea  fair,  the  pastures  Hira  yields, 

And  rich  Anthem,  with  her  flowery  fields : 

The  whole  extent  to  Pylos’  sandy  plain, 

Along  the  verdant  margin  of  the  main : 

There  heifers  graze,  and  lab’ring  oxen  toil ;  390 

Bold  are  the  men,  and  gen’rous  is  the  soil : 

There  shalt  thou  reign,  with  power  and  justice 
crown'd. 

And  rule  the  tributary  realms  around. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


221 


Such  are  the  proffers  which  this  day  we  bring, 

Such  the  repentance  of  a  suppliant  king.  395 

But  if  all  this,  relentless,  thou  disdain, 

If  honour  and  if  interest  plead  in  vain, 

Yet  some  redress  to  suppliant  Greece  afford, 

And  be  among  her  guardian  gods  adored. 

If  no  regard  thy  suffering  country  claim,  400 

Hear  thy  own  glory,  and  the  voice  of  fame: 

For  now  that  chief  whose  unresisted  ire 
Made  nations  tremble  and  whole  hosts  retire, 

Proud  Hector,  now,  the  unequal  fight  demands. 

And  only  triumphs  to  deserve  thy  hands.”  405 

Then  thus  the  goddess-born :  “  Ulysses,  hear 
A  faithful  speech,  that  knows  nor  art  nor  fear; 

What  in  my  secret  soul  is  understood, 

My  tongue  shall  utter,  and  my  deeds  make  good. 

Let  Greece  then  know  my  purpose  I  retain :  410 

Nor  with  new  treaties  vex  my  peace  in  vain. 

Who  dares  think  one  thing,  and  another  tell, 

My  heart  detests  him  as  the  gates  of  hell. 

“  Then  thus  in  short  my  fix’d  resolves  attend, 
Which  nor  Atrides  nor  his  Greeks  can  bend ;  415 

Long  toils,  long  perils,  in  their  cause  I  bore, 

But  now  the  unfruitful  glories  charm  no  more. 

Fight  or  not  fight,  a  like  reward  we  claim, 

The  wretch  and  hero  find  the  prize  the  same  ; 

Alike  regretted  in  the  dust  he  lies,  420 

Who  yields  ignobly,  or  who  bravely  dies. 

Of  all  my  dangers,  all  my  glorious  pains, 

A  life  of  labours,  lo  !  what  fruit  remains  1 
As  the  bold  bird  her  helpless  young  attends. 

From  danger  guards  them,  and  from  want  defends  : 
In  search  of  prey  she  wings  the  spacious  air,  426 
And  with  the  untasted  food  supplies  her  care  : 

For  thankless  Greece  such  hardships  have  I  braved, 
Her  wives,  her  infants,  by  my  labours  saved; 

Long  sleepless  nights  in  heavy  arms  I  stood,  430 
And  sweat  laborious  days  in  dust  and  blood. 

t2 


222 


HOMER. 


I  sack’d  t  welve  ample  cities  on  the  main, 

And  twelve  lay  smoking  on  the  Trojan  plain : 

Then  at  Atrides’  haughty  feet  were  laid 
The  wealth  I  gather’d,  and  the  spoils  I  made.  435 
Your  mighty  monarch  these  in  peace  possess’d ; 
Some  few  my  soldiers  had,  himself  the  rest. 

Some  present  too  to  every  prince  was  paid; 

And  every  prince  enjoys  the  gift  he  made  ; 

I  only  must  refund,  of  all  his  train  ;  440 

See  what  pre-eminence  our  merits  gain! 

My  spoil  alone  his  greedy  soul  delights  ; 

My  spouse  alone  must  bless  his  happy  nights : 

The  woman  let  him  (as  he  may)  enjoy ; 

But  what’s  the  quarrel  then  of  Greece  to  Troy?  445 
What  to  these  shores  the  assembled  nations  draws; 
What  calls  for  vengeance  but  a  woman’s  cause  ? 
Are  fair  endowments  and  a  beauteous  face 
Beloved  by  none  but  those  of  Atreus’  race  ? 

The  wife  whom  choice  and  passion  both  approve, 
Sure  every  wise  and  worthy  man  will  love.  451 
Nor  did  my  fair  one  less  distinction  claim ; 

Slave  as  she  was,  my  soul  adored  the  dame. 
Wrong’d  in  my  love,  all  proffers  I  disdain  ; 

Deceived  for  once,  I  trust  not  kings  again.  455 
Ye  have  my  answer — what  remains  to  do, 

Your  king,  Ulysses,  may  consult  with  you. 

What  needs  he  the  defence  this  arm  can  make  ? 

Has  he  not  walls  no  human  force  can  shake  ? 

Has  he  not  fenced  his  guarded  navy  round  460 
With  piles,  with  ramparts,  and  a  trench  profound? 
And  will  not  these  (the  wonders  he  has  done) 

Repel  the  rage  of  Priam’s  single  son  1 
There  was  a  time  (’twas  when  for  Greece  I  fought) 
When  Hector’s  prowess  no  such  wonders  wrought ; 
He  kept  the  verge  of  Troy,  nor  dared  to  wait  466 
Achilles'  fury  at  the  Scaean  gate  ; 

He  tried  it  once,  and  scarce  was  saved  by  fate. 

But  now  those  ancient  enmities  are  o’er; 
To-morrow  we  the  fav’ring  gods  implore  ;  470 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


223 


Then  shall  you  see  our  parting  vessels  crown’d, 

And  hear  with  oars  the  Hellespont  resound. 

The  third  day  hence  shall  Phthia  greet  our  sails, 

If  mighty  Neptune  send  propitious  gales; 

Phthia  to  her  Achilles  shall  restore  475 

The  wealth  he  left  for  this  detested  shore : 

Thither  the  spoils  of  this  long  war  shall  pass, 

The  ruddy  gold,  the  steel, and  shining  brass; 

My  beauteous  captives  thither  I’ll  convey, 

And  all  that  rests  of  my  unravish’d  prey.  480 

One  only  valued  gift  your  tyrant  gave, 

And  that  resumed,  the  fair  Lyrnessian  slave. 

Then  tell  him,  loud,  that  all  the  Greeks  may  hear, 
And  learn  to  scorn  the  wretch  they  basely  fear ; 
(For,  arm’d  in  impudence,  mankind  he  braves,  485 
And  meditates  new  cheats  on  all  his  slaves ; 
Though,  shameless  as  he  is,  to  face  these  eyes 
Is  what  he  dares  not ;  if  he  dares,  he  dies;) 

Tell  him,  all  terms,  all  commerce  I  decline, 

Nor  share  his  council,  nor  his  battle  join ;  490 

For  once  deceived,  was  his  ;  but  twice,  were  mine. 
No — let  the  stupid  prince,  whom  Jove  deprives 
Of  sense  and  justice,  run  where  phrensy  drives; 

His  gifts  are  hateful :  kings  of  such  a  kind 
Stand  but  as  slaves  before  a  noble  mind.  495 

Not  though  he  proffer’d  all  himself  possess’d, 

And  all  his  rapine  could  from  others  wrest; 

Not  all  the  gulden  tides  of  wealth  that  crown 
The  many-peopled  Orchomenian  town  ; 

Not  all  proud  Thebes’  unrivall’d  walls  contain,  500 
The  world’s  great  empress  on  the  Egyptian  plain ; 
(That  spreads  her  conquests  o’er  a  thousand  states, 
And  pours  her  heroes  through  a  hundred  gates, 

Two  hundred  horsemen,  and  two  hundred  cars 
From  each  wide  portal  issuing  to  the  wars  ;)  505 

Though  bribes  were  heap’d  on  bribes,  in  number  more 
Than  dust  in  fields,  or  sands  along  the  shore  ; 

Should  all  these  offers  for  my  friendship  call; 

’Tis  he  that  offers,  and  I  scorn  them  all 


224 


HOMER. 


Atrides’  daughter  never  shall  be  led  510 

(An  ill-match'd  consort)  to  Achilles’  bed  ; 

Like  golden  Venus  though  she  charm’d  the  heart, 
And  vied  with  Pallas  in  the  works  of  art, 

Some  greater  Greek  let  those  high  nuptials  grace, 

I  hate  alliance  with  a  tyrant’s  race.  515 

If  Heaven  restore  me  to  my  realms  with  life, 

The  reverend  Peleus  shall  elect  my  wife. 
Thessalian  nymphs  there  are,  of  form  divine, 

And  kings  that  sue  to  mix  their  blood  with  mine. 
Bless’d  in  kind  love,  my  years  shall  glide  away,  520 
Content  with  just  hereditary  sway; 

There,  deaf  for  ever  to  the  martial  strife, 

Enjoy  the  dear  prerogative  of  life. 

Life  is  not  to  be  bought  with  heaps  of  gold  ; 

Not  all  Apollo’s  Pythian  treasures  hold,  525 

Or  Troy  once  held,  in  peace  and  pride  of  sway, 

Can  bribe  the  poor  possession  of  a  day  ! 

Lost  herds  and  treasures  we  by  arms  regain, 

And  steeds  unrivall’d  on  the  dusty  plain : 

But  from  our  lips  the  vital  spirit  fled,  530 

Returns  no  more  to  wake  the  silent  dead. 

My  fates  long  since  by  Thetis  were  disclosed, 

And  each  alternate,  life  or  fame,  proposed; 

Here  if  I  stay,  before  the  Trojan  town, 

Short  is  my  date,  but  deathless  my  renown:  535 

If  l  return,  I  quit  immortal  praise 
For  years  on  years,  and  long-extended  days. 
Convinced,  though  late,  1  find  my  fond  mistake, 

And  warn  the  Greeks  the  wiser  choice  to  make : 

To  quit  these  shores,  their  native  seats  enjoy,  540 
Nor  hope  the  fall  of  Heaven-defended  Troy. 

Jove’s  arm  display’d  asserts  her  from  the  skies  ; 

Her  hearts  are  strengthen’d,  and  her  glories  rise. 

Go  then,  to  Greece  report  our  fix’d  design; 

Bjd  all  your  councils,  all  your  armies  join,  545 
Let  all  your  forces,  all  your  arts  conspire 
To  save  the  ships,  the  troops,  the  chiefs,  from  fire. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


225 


One  stratagem  has  fail’d,  and  others  will: 

Ye  find  Achilles  is  unconquer’d  still. 

Go  then,  digest  my  message  as  you  may ;  55l> 

But  here  this  night  let  reverend  Phoenix  stay : 

His  tedious  toils  and  hoary  hairs  demand 
A  peaceful  death  in  Phthia’s  friendly  land. 

But  whether  he  remain,  or  sail  with  me, 

His  age  be  sacred,  and  his  will  be  free.”  555 

The  son  of  Peleus  ceased  :  the  chiefs  around 
In  silence  wrapp’d,  in  consternation  drown’d, 

Attend  the  stern  reply.  Then  Phoenix  rose  ; 

(Down  his  white  beard  a  stream  of  sorrow  flows  ;) 
And  while  the  fate  of  suffering  Greece  he  mourn’d, 
With  accent  weak  these  tender  words  return’d :  561 
“  Divine  Achilles !  wilt  thou  then  retire, 

And  leave  our  hosts  in  blood,  our  fleets  on  fire  1 
If  wrath  so  dreadful  fill  thy  ruthless  mind, 

How  shall  thy  friend,  thy  Phoenix,  stay  behind!  565 
The  royal  Peleus,  when  from  Phthia’s  coast 
He  sent  thee  early  to  the  Achaian  host, 

Thy  youth  as  then  in  sage  debates  unskill’d, 

And  new  to  perils  of  the  direful  field, 

He  bade  me  teach  thee  all  the  ways  of  war ;  570 

To  shine  in  councils,  and  in  camps  to  dare. 

Never,  ah  never,  let  me  leave  thy  side  ! 

No  time  shall  part  us,  and  no  fate  divide. 

Not  though  the  God,  that  breath’d  my  life,  restore 
The  bloom  I  boasted,  and  the  port  I  bore,  575 
When  Greece  of  old  beheld  my  youthful  flames,. 
(Delightful  Greece,  the  land  of  lovely  dames !) 

My  father,  faithless  to  my  mother’s  arms, 

Old  as  he  was,  adored  a  stranger’s  charms. 

I  tried  what  youth  could  do,  at  her  desire,  580 
To  win  the  damsel,  and  prevent  my  sire. 

My  sire  with  curses  loads  my  hated  head, 

And  cries,  4  Ye  furies!  barren  be  his  bed.’ 

Infernal  Jove,  the  vengeful  fiends  belowr, 

And  ruthless  Proserpine,  confirm  his  vow.  585 


226 


IIOMER 


Despair  and  grief  distract  my  lab’ring  mind ! 

Gods  !  what  a  crime  my  impious  heart  design’d! 

I  thought  (but  some  kind  god  that  thought  suppres’d) 
To  plunge  the  poniard  in  my  father’s  breast : 

Then  meditate  my  flight :  my  friends  in  vain  590 
With  prayers  entreat  me,  and  with  force  detain. 

On  fat  of  rams,  black  bulls,  and  brawny  swine, 

They  daily  feast,  with  draughts  of  fragrant  wine: 
Strong  guards  they  placed,  and  watch’d  nine  nights 
entire ;  •  594 

The  roofs  and  porches  flamed  with  constant  fire. 
The  tenth,  I  forced  the  gates  unseen  of  all ; 

And,  favour’d  by  the  night,  o’erleap’d  the  wall. 

My  travels  thence  through  spacious  Greece  extend; 
In  Phthia’s  court  at  last  my  labours  end. 

Your  sire  received  me,  as  his  son  caress’d,  600 
With  gifts  enrich’d,  and  with  possessions  bless’d. 
The  strong  Dolopians  thenceforth  own’d  my  reign, 
And  all  the  coast  that  runs  along  the  main. 

By  love  to  thee  his  bounties  I  repaid, 

And  early  wisdom  to  thy  soul  convey’d :  605 

Great  as  thou  art,  my  lessons  made  thee  brave, 

A  child  I  took  thee,  but  a  hero  gave. 

Thy  infant  breast  a  like  affection  show’d ; 

Still  in  my  arms,  (an  ever-pleasing  load,) 

Or  at  my  knee  by  Phoenix  wouldst  thou  stand ;  610 
No  food  was  grateful  but  from  Phoenix’s  hand. 

I  pass  my  watchings  o’er  thy  helpless  years, 

The  tender  labours,  the  compliant  cares ; 

The  gods,  I  thought,  reversed  their  hard  decree, 

And  Phoenix  felt  a  father’s  joys  in  thee  : 

Thy  growing  virtues  justified  my  cares  ; 

And  promised  comfort  to  my  silver  hairs. 

Now  be  thy  rage,  thy  fatal  rage,  resign’d ; 

A  cruel  heart  ill  suits  a  manly  mind : 

The  gods,  the  only  great,  and  only  wise, 

Are  moved  by  offerings,  vows,  and  sacrifice  ; 
Offending  man  their  high  compassion  wins, 

And  daily  prayers  atone  for  daily  sins. 


615 


620 

* 

t 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


227 


Prayers  are  Jove’s  daughters,  of  celestial  race, 

Lame  are  their  feet,  and  wrinkled  is  their  face  ;  625 
With  humble  mien  and  with  dejected  eyes, 

Constant  they  follow  where  injustice  flies  : 

Injustice,  swift,  erect,  and  unconfined, 

Sweeps  the  wide  earth,  and  tramples  o’er  mankind. 
While  prayers,  to  heal  her  wrongs,  move  slow  be¬ 
hind.  630 

Who  hears  these  daughters  of  almighty  Jove, 

For  him  they  mediate  to  the  throne  above: 

When  man  rejects  the  humble  suit  they  make, 

The  sire  revenges  for  the  daughters’  sake ; 

From  Jove  commission’d,  fierce  Injustice  then  635 
Descends,  to  punish  unrelenting  men. 

Oh,  let  not  headlong  passion  bear  the  sway ; 

These  reconciling  goddesses  obey  : 

Due  honours  to  the  seed  of  Jove  belong :  639 

Due  honours  calm  the  fierce,  and  bend  the  strong. 
Were  these  not  paid  thee  by  the  terms  we  bring, 
Were  rage  still  harbour’d  in  the  haughty  king; 

Nor  Greece,  nor  all  her  fortunes  should  engage 
Thy  friend  to  plead  against  so  just  a  rage. 

But  since  what  honour  asks,  the  general  sends,  645 
And  sends  by  those  whom  most  thy  heart  commends, 
The  best  and  noblest  of  the  Grecian  train; 

Permit  not  these  to  sue,  and  sue  in  vain  ! 

Let  me,  my  son,  an  ancient  fact  unfold, 

A  great  example  drawn  from  times  of  old  ;  650 

Hear  what  our  fathers  were,  and  what  their  praise 
Who  conquer’d  their  revenge  in  former  days. 

“  Where  Calydon  on  rocky  mountains  stands, 
Once  fought  the  AStolian  and  Curetian  bands ; 

To  guard  it  those,  to  conquer  these  advance  ;  655 

And  mutual  deaths  were  dealt  with  mutual  chance. 
The  silver  Cynthia  bade  Contention  rise, 

In  vengeance  of  neglected  sacrifice ; 

On  CEneus’  fields  she  sent  a  monstrous  boar, 

That  levell’d  harvests,  and  whole  forests  tore  ;  660 


228 


HOMER. 


This  beast  (when  many  a  chief  his  tusks  had  slain) 
Great  Meleager  stretch’d  along  the  plain. 

Then  for  his  spoils  a  new  debate  arose, 

The  neighbour  nations  thence  commencing  foes. 
Strong  as  they  were,  the  bold  Curetes  fail’d,  665 
While  Meleager’s  thundering  arm  prevail’d : 

Till  rage  at  length  inflamed  his  lofty  breast — 

(For  rage  invades  the  wisest  and  the  best.) 

Cursed  by  Althaea,  to  his  wrath  he  yields, 

And  in  his  wife’s  embrace  forgets  the  fields.  670 
‘  She  from  Marpessa  sprung,  divinely  fair, 

And  matchless  Idas,  more  than  man  in  war ; 

The  god  of  day  adored  the  mother’s  charms : 
Against  the  god  the  father  bent  his  arms  : 

The  afflicted  pair,  their  sorrows  to  proclaim,  675 
From  Cleopatra  changed  this  daughter’s  name, 

And  call’d  Alcyone  ;  a  name  to  show 

The  father’s  grief,  the  mourning  mother’s  wo.* 

To  her  the  chief  retired  from  stem  debate, 

But  found  no  peace  from  fierce  Althaea’s  hate :  680 

Althaea’s  hate  the  unhappy  warrior  drew, 

Whose  luckless  hand  his  royal  uncle  slew ; 

She  beat  the  ground,  and  call’d  the  powers  beneath 
On  her  own  son  to  wreak  her  brother’s  death  : 

Hell  heard  her  curses  from  the  realms  profound,  685 
And  the  red  fiends  that  walk  the  nightly  round. 

In  vain  iEtolia  her  deliverer  waits, 

War  shakes  her  walls  and  thunders  at  her  gates. 

She  sent  ambassadors,  a  chosen  band, 

Priests  of  the  gods,  and  elders  of  the  land ;  690 

Besought  the  chief  to  save  the  sinking  state  : 

Their  prayers  were  urgent,  and  their  proffers  great : 
(Full  fifty  acres  of  the  richest  ground, 

Half  pasture  green,  and  half  with  vineyards  crown’d.) 
His  suppliant  father,  aged  (Eneus,  came ;  695 

His  sisters  follow’d ;  ev’n  the  vengeful  dame, 
Althaea,  sues  ;  his  friends  before  him  fall : 

He  stands  relentless,  and  rejects  them  all. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX. 


229 


Meanwhile  the  victors’  shouts  ascend  the  skies ; 
The  walls  are  scaled ;  the  rolling  flames  arise  :  700 
At  length  his  wife,  a  form  divine,  appears, 

With  piercing  cries  and  supplicating  tears ; 

She  paints  the  horrors  of  a  conquer’d  town, 

The  heroes  slain,  the  palaces  o’erthrown, 

The  matrons  ravish’d,  the  whole  race  enslaved  :  705 
The  warrior  heard,  he  vanquish’d,  and  he  saved. 

The  iEtolians,  long  disdain’d,  now  took  their  turn, 
And  left  the  chief  their  broken  faith  to  mourn. 

Learn  hence,  betimes  to  curb  pernicious  ire, 

Nor  stay  till  yonder  fleets  ascend  in  fire ;  710 

Accept  the  presents  ;  draw  thy  conquering  sword, 
And  be  among  our  guardian  gods  adored.” 

Thus  he :  the  stern  Achilles  thus  replied  : 

“  My  second  father,  and  my  reverend  guide ! 

Thy  friend,  believe  me,  no  such  gifts  demands,  715 
And  asks  no  honours  from  a  mortal’s  hands : 

Jove  honours  me,  and  favours  my  designs ; 

His  pleasure  guides  me,  and  his  will  confines : 

And  here  I  stay,  if  such  his  high  behest, 

While  life’s  warm  spirit  beats  within  my  breast.  720 
Yet  hear  one  word,  and  lodge  it  in  thy  heart : 

No  more  molest  me  on  Atrides’  part : 

Is  it  for  him  these  tears  are  taught  to  flow, 

For  him  these  sorrows  1  for  my  mortal  foe? 

A  generous  friendship  no  cold  medium  knows,  725 
Burns  with  one  love,  with  one  resentment  glows; 
One  should  our  interests  and  our  passions  be ; 

My  friend  must  hate  the  man  that  injures  me. 

Do  this,  my  Phoenix,  ’tis  a  generous  part, 

And  share  my  realms,  my  honours,  and  my  heart. 

Let  these  return ;  our  voyage,  or  our  stay,  731 
Rest  undetermined  till  the  dawning  day.” 

He  ceased:  then  order’d  for  the  sage’s  bed 
A  warmer  couch  with  numerous  carpets  spread. 

With  that  stern  Ajax  his  long  silence  broke,  735 
And  thus,  impatient,  to  Ulysses  spoke : 
pom. — i. — u 


230 


HOMER. 


“  Hence  let  us  go  ;  why  waste  we  time  m  vain  1 
See  what  effect  our  low  submissions  gain  ! 

Liked  or  not  liked,  his  words  we  must  relate, 

The  Greeks  expect  them,  and  our  heroes  wait.  740 

Proud  as  he  is,  that  iron  heart  retains 

Its  stubborn  purpose,  and  his  friends  disdains. 

Stern  and  .unpitying  !  If  a  brother  bleed, 

On  just  atonement,  we  remit  the  deed  ; 

A  sire  the  slaughter  of  his  son  forgives ;  745 

The  price  of  blood  discharged,  the  murderer  lives : 
The  haughtiest  hearts  at  length  their  rage  resign, 
And  gifts  can  conquer  every  soul  but  thine. 

The  gods  that  unrelenting  breast  have  steel’d, 

And  cursed  thee  with  a  mind  that  cannot  yield.  750 
One  woman  slave  was  ravish’d  from  thy  arms : 

Lo !  seven  are  offer’d,  and  of  equal  charms. 

Then  hear,  Achilles!  be  of  better  mind  ; 

Revere  thy  roof,  and  to  thy  guests  be  kind ; 

And  know  the  men,  of  all  the  Grecian  host,  755 
Who  honour  worth,  and  prize  thy  valour  most.” 

“  Oh  soul  of  battles,  and  thy  people’s  guide !” 

(To  Ajax  thus  the  first  of  Greeks  replied  :) 

“  Well  hast  thou  spoke  !  but  at  the  tyrant’s  name 
My  rage  rekindles,  and  my  soul’s  on  flame  :  760 

’Tis  just  resentment,  and  becomes  the  brave ; 
Disgraced,  dishonour’d,  like  the  vilest  slave  ! 

Return  then,  heroes!  and  our  answer  bear: 

The  glorious  combat  is  no  more  my  care; 

Not  till,  amid  yon  sinking  navy  slain,  765 

The  blood  of  Greeks  shall  die  the  sable  main  ; 

Not  till  the  flames,  by  Hector’s  fury  thrown, 
Consume  your  vessels,  and  approach  my  own ; 

Just  there  the  impetuous  homicide  shall  stand, 
There  cease  his  battle,  and  there  feel  our  hand.”  770 
This  said,  each  prince  a  double  goblet  crown’d, 
And  cast  a  large  libation  on  the  ground ; 

Then  to  their  vessels,  through  the  gloomy  shades, 
The  chiefs  return ;  divine  Ulysses  leads. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  IX.  231 

Meantime  Achilles’  slaves  prepared  a  bed,  775 

With  fleeces, -carpets,  and  soft  linen  spread  : 

There,  till  the  sacred  morn  restored  the  day, 

In  slumbers  sweet  the  reverend  Phoenix  lay. 

But  in  his  inner  tent,  an  ampler  space, 

Achilles  slept ;  and  in  his  warm  embrace  780 

Fair  Diomede  of  the  Lesbian  race. 

Last,  for  Patroclus  was  the  couch  prepared, 

Whose  nightly  joys  the  beauteous  Iphis  shared  ; 
Achilles  to  his  friend  consign’d  her  charms, 

When  Scyros  fell  before  his  conquering  arms.  785 
And  now  the  elected  chiefs,  whom  Greece  had 
sent, 

Pass’d  through  the  hosts,  and  reach’d  the  royal  tent. 
Then  rising  all,  with  goblets  in  their  hands, 

The  peers,  and  leaders  of  the  Achaian  bands 
Hail’d  their  return  :  Atrides  first  begun  :  790 

“  Say,  what  success,  divine  Laertes’  son  l 
Achilles’  high  resolves  declare  to  all ; 

Returns  the  chief,  or  must  our  navy  fall  1” 

“  Great  king  of  nations  !”  Ithacus  replied, 

“  Fix’d  is  his  wrath,  unconquer’d  is  his  pride  ;  795 

He  slights  thy  friendship,  thy  proposals  scorns, 

And  thus  implored,  with  fiercer  fury  burns. 

To  save  our  army,  and  our  fleets  to  free, 

Is  not  his  care,  but  left  to  Greece  and  thee.  799 
Your  eyes  shall  view,  when  morning  paints  the  sky, 
Beneath  his  oars  the  whitening  billows  fly  : 

Us  too  he  bids  our  oars  and  sails  employ, 

Nor  hope  the  fall  of  Heaven-protected  Troy; 

For  Jove  o’ershades  her  with  his  arm  divine, 

Inspires  her  war,  and  bids  her  glory  shine.  805 
Such  was  his  word  :  what  farther  he  declared, 

These  sacred  heralds  and  great  Ajax  heard. 

But  Phoenix  in  his  tent  the  chief  retains, 

Safe  to  transport  him  to  his  native  plains, 

When  morning  dawns  :  if  other  he  decree,  810 
His  age  is  sacred,  and  his  choice  is  free.” 


232 


HOMER. 


Ulysses  ceased:  the  great  Achaianhost, 

With  sorrow  seized,  in  consternation  lost, 

Attend  the  stern  reply.  Tydides  broke 
The  general  silence,  and  undaunted  spoke  :  815 

“  Why  should  we  gifts  to  proud  Achilles  send  1 
Or  strive  with  prayers  his  haughty  soul  to  bend  ? 
His  country’s  woes  he  glories  to  deride, 

And  prayers  will  burst  that  swelling  heart  with  pride. 
Be  the  fierce  impulse  of  his  rage  obey’d;  820 

Our  battles  let  him  or  desert  or  aid  ; 

Then  let  him  arm  when  Jove  or  he  think  fit ; 

That,  to  his  madness,  or  to  Heaven  commit: 

What  for  ourselves  we  can,  is  always  ours  ; 

This  night  let  due  repast  refresh  our  powers  :  825 

(For  strength  consists  in  spirits  and  in  blood, 

And  those  are  owed  to  generous  wine  and  food :) 
But  when  the  rosy  messenger  of  day 
Strikes  the  blue  mountains  with  her  golden  ray, 
Ranged  at  the  ships,  let  all  our  squadrons  shine,  830 
In  flaming  arms,  a  long  extended  line  : 

In  the  dread  front  let  great  Atrides  stand, 

The  first  in  danger,  as  in  high  command.” 

Shouts  of  acclaim  the  list’ning  heroes  raise, 

Then  each  to  Heaven  the  due  libations  pays ;  835 

Till  sleep,  descending  o’er  the  tents,  bestows 
The  grateful  blessings  of  desired  repose. 


BOOK  X. 


ARGUMENT. 

The  Night  Adventure  of  Diomed  and  Ulysses. 

On  the  refusal  of  Achilles  to  return  to  the  army,  the  distress  of 
Agamemnon  is  described  in  the  most  lively  manner — He  takes 
no  rest  that  night.,  but  passes  through  the  camp,  awaking  the 
leaders,  and  contriving  all  possible  methods  for  the  public 
safety — Menelaus,  Nestor,  Ulysses,  and  Diomed  are  em¬ 
ployed  in  raising  the  rest  of  the  captains— They  call  a  council 
of  war,  and  determine  to  send  scouts  into  the  enemy’s  camp, 
to  learn  their  posture,  and  discover  their  intentions  — Diomed 
undertakes  this  hazardous  enterprise,  and  makes  choice  of 
Ulysses  for  his  companion — In  their  passage  they  surprise 
Dolon,  whom  Hector  had  sent  on  a  like  design  to  the  camp 
of  the  Grecians — From  him  they  are  informed  of  the  situation 
of  the  Trojan  and  auxiliary  forces,  and  particularly  of  Rhesus, 
and  the  Thracians  who  were  lately  arrived— They  pass  on 
with  success  ;  kill  Rhesus,  with  several  of  his  officers,  and 
seize  the  famous  horses  of  that  prince,  with  which  they  return 
in  triumph  to  the  camp.— [The  same  night  continues.  The 
scene  lies  in  the  two  camps.] 


All  night  the  chiefs  before  the  vessels  lay, 

And  lost  in  sleep  the  labours  of  the  day  : 

All  but  the  king;  with  various  thoughts  oppress’d, 
His  country’s  cares  lay  rolling  in  his  breast. 

As  when,  by  lightnings,  Jove’s  ethereal  power  5 
Foretels  the  rattling  hail  or  weighty  shower, 

Or  sends  soft  snows  to  whiten  all  the  shore, 

Oj*  bids  the  brazen  throat  of  war  to  roar  ; 

By  fits  one  flash  succeeds  as  one  expires, 

And  heaven  flames  thick  with  momentary  fires :  10 

u  2 


234 


HOMER. 


So  bursting  frequent  from  Atrides’  breast, 

Sighs  following  sighs  his  inward  fears  confess’d. 
Now  o’er  the  fields,  dejected  he  surveys 
From  thousand  Trojan  fires  the  mountain  blaze ; 
Hears  in  the  passing  wind  their  music  blow,  15 
And  marks  distinct  the  voices  of  the  foe. 

Now  looking  backward  to  the  fleet  and  coast, 
Anxious  he  sorrows  for  the  endanger’d  host. 

He  rends  his  hairs  in  sacrifice  to  Jove, 

And  sues  to  him  that  ever  lives  above :  20 

Inly  he  groans ;  while  glory  and  despair 
Divide  his  heart,  and  wage  a  doubtful  war. 

A  thousand  cares  his  labouring  breast  resolves ; 

To  seek  sage  Nestor  now  the  chief  rest  ,es, 

With  him,  in  wholesome  counsels  to  debate  25 
What  yet  remains  to  save  the  afflicted  state. 

He  rose ;  and  first  he  cast  his  mantle  round, 

Next  on  his  feet  the  shining  sandals  bound  ; 

A  lion’s  yellow  spoils  his  back  conceal’d ; 

His  warlike  hand  a  pointed  javelin  held.  30 

Meanwhile  his  brother,  press’d  with  equal  woes, 
Alike  denied  the  gifts  of  soft  repose, 

Laments  for  Greece  ;  that  in  his  cause  before 
So  much  had  suffer’d,  and  must  suffer  more. 

A  leopard’s  spotted  hide  his  shoulders  spread  ;  35 

A  brazen  helmet  glitter’d  on  his  head  : 

Thus,  with  a  javelin  in  his  hand,  he  went 
To  wake  Atrides  in  the  royal  tent. 

Already  waked,  Atrides  he  descried, 

His  armour  buckling  at  his  vessel’s  side.  40 

Joyful  they  met ;  the  Spartan  thus  begun : 

“Why  puts  my  brother  his  bright  armour  on? 

Sends  he  some  spy,  amid  the  silent  hours, 

To  try  yon  camp,  and  watch  the  Trojan  powers? 

But  say,  what  hero  shall  sustain  that  task,  45 

Such  bold  exploits  uncommon  courage  ask; 
Guideless,  alone,  through  night’s  dark  shade  to  go, 
And  mid  a  hostile  camp  explore  the  foe.” 


ILIAD. - BOOK  X. 


235 


To  whom  the  king:  “  In  such  distress  we  stand, 
No  vulgar  counsels  our  affairs  demand :  50 

Greece  to  preserve  is  now  no  easy  part, 

But  asks  high  wisdom,  deep  design,  and  art. 

For  Jove  averse  our  humble  prayer  denies, 

And  bows  his  head  to  Hector’s  sacrifice. 

What  eye  has  witness’d,  or  what  ear  believed,  55 
In  one  great  day,  by  one  great  arm  achieved, 

Such  wondrous  deeds  as  Hector’s  hand  has  done, 
And  we  beheld,  the  last  revolving  sun  t 
What  honours  the  beloved  of  Jove  adorn  ! 

Sprung  from  no  god,  and  of  no  goddess  born,  60 
Yet  such  his  acts,  as  Greeks  unborn  shall  tell, 

And  curse  the  battle  where  their  fathers  fell. 

“  Now  speed  thy  hasty  course  along  the  fleet, 
There  call  great  Ajax,  and  the  prince  of  Crete  : 
Ourself  to  hoary  Nestor  will  repair;  65 

To  keep  the  guards  on  duty,  be  his  care : 

(For  Nestor’^ influence  best  that  quarter  guides, 
Whose  son  with  Merion  o’er  the  watch  presides.”) 
To  whom  the  Spartan  :  These  thy  orders  borne, 
Say,  shall  I  stay,  or  with  despatch  return  ?”  70 

“  There  shalt  thou  stay,”  the  king  of  men  replied, 

“  Else  may  we  miss  to  meet,  without  a  guide, 

The  paths  so  many,  and  the  camp  so  wide. 

Still,  with  your  voice,  the  slothful  soldiers  raise, 
Urge,  by  their  fathers’  fame,  their  future  praise.  75 
Forget  we  now  our  state  and  lofty  birth  ; 

Not  titles  here,  but  works,  must  prove  our  worth. 
To  labour  is  the  lot  of  man  below  ; 

And  when  Jove  gave  us  life,  he  gave  us  wo.” 

This  said,  each  parted  to  his  several  cares  :  80 

The  king  to  Nestor’s  sable  ship  repairs : 

The  sage  protector  of  the  Greeks  he  found 
Stretch’d  in  his  bed,  with  all  his  arms  around  ; 

The  various-colour’d  scarf,  the  shield  he  rears, 

The  shining  helmet,  and  the  pointed  spears  :  85 

The  dreadful  weapons  of  the  warrior’s  rage. 

That,  old  in  arms,  disdain’d  the  peace  of  age. 


236 


HOMER. 


Then  leaning  on  his  hand  his  watchful  head, 

The  hoary  monarch  raised  his  eyes,  and  said  : 

“  What  art  thou  ?  speak,  that  on  designs  unknown, 
While  others  sleep,  thus  range  the  camp  alone  1  9i 
Seek’st  thou  some  friend,  or  nightly  sentinel? 

Stand  off,  approach  not,  but  thy  purpose  tell.” 

“  Oh  son  of  Neleus  !”  thus  the  king  rejoin’d, 

“  Pride  of  the  Greeks,  and  glory  of  thy  kind !  95 

Lo  here  the  wretched  Agamemnon  stands, 

The  unhappy  general  of  the  Grecian  bands  ; 

Whom  Jove  decrees  with  daily  cares  to  bend, 

And  woes,  that  only  with  his  life  shall  end  ! 

Scarce  can  my  knees  these  trembling  limbs  sustain, 
And  scarce  my  heart  support  its  load  of  pain.  101 
No  taste  of  sleep  these  heavy  eyes  have  known ; 
Confused,  and  sad,  I  wander  thus  alone. 

With  fears  distracted,  with  no  fix’d  design  ; 

And  all  my  people’s  miseries  are  mine.  105 

If  aught  of  use  thy  waking  thoughts  suggest, 

(Since  cares,  like  mine,  deprive  thy  soul  of  rest,) 
Impart  thy  counsel,  and  assist  thy  friend  ; 

Now  let  us  jointly  to  the  trench  descend, 

At  every  gate  the  fainting  guard  excite,  110 

Tired  with  the  toils  of  day  and  watch  of  night : 

Else  may  the  sudden  foe  our  works  invade, 

So  near,  and  favour’d  by  the  gloomy  shade.” 

To  him  thus  Nestor:  “ Trust  the  powers  above, 
Nor  think  proud  Hector’s  hopes  confirm’d  by  Jove  : 
How  ill  agree  the  views  of  vain  mankind,  116 

And  the  wise  counsels  of  the  eternal  mind  1 
Audacious  Hector,  if  the  gods  ordain, 
v  That  great  Achilles  rise  and  rage  again, 

What  toils  attend  thee,  and  what  woes  remain!  120 
Lo,  faithful  Nestor  thy  command  obeys; 

The  care  is  next  our  other  chiefs  to  raise : 

Ulysses,  Diomed,  we  chiefly  need  ; 

Meges  for  strength,  Oileus  famed  for  speed. 

Some  other  be  despatch’d  of  nimbler  feet,  125 
To  those  tall  ships,  remotest  of  the  fleet, 


ILIAD. — BOOK  X. 


237 


Where  lie  great  Ajax,  and  the  King  of  Crete. 

To  rouse  the  Spartan  I  myself  decree  ; 

Dear  as  he  is  to  us,  and  dear  to  thee, 

Yet  must  I  tax  his  sloth,  that  claims  no  share  130 
With  his  great  brother  in  his  martial  care  : 

Him  it  behooved  to  every  chief  to  sue, 

Preventing  every  part  perform’d  by  you  ; 

For  strong  necessity  our  toils  demands, 

Claims  all  our  hearts,  and  urges  all  our  hands.”  135 
To  whom  the  king:  “  With  reverence  we  allow 
Thy  just  rebukes,  yet  learn  to  spare  them  now. 

My  generous  brother  is  of  gentle  kind, 

He  seems  remiss,  but  bears  a  valiant  mind ; 
Through  too  much  deference  to  our  sovereign  sway, 
Content  to  follow  when  we  lead  the  way.  141 
But  now,  our  ills  industrious  to  prevent, 

Long  ere  the  rest,  he  rose  and  sought  my  tent. 

The  chiefs  you  named,  already  at  his  call, 

Prepare  to  meet  us  near  the  navy  wall ;  145 

Assembling  there,  between  the  trench  and  gates, 
Near  the  night  guards,  our  chosen  counsel  waits.” 

“  Then  none,”  said  Nestor,  “  shall  his  rule  with¬ 
stand, 

For  great  examples  justify  command.” 

With  that  the  venerable  warrior  rose  ;  150 

The  shining  greaves  his  manly  legs  enclose  ; 

His  purple  mantle  golden  buckles  join’d, 

Warm  with  the  softest  wool,  and  doubly  lined. 
Then,  rushing  from  his  tent,  he  snatch’d  in  haste 
His  steely  lance,  that  lighten’d  as  he  pass’d.  155 
The  camp  he  traversed  through  the  sleeping  crowd. 
Stopp’d  at  Ulysses’  tent,  and  call’d  aloud. 

Ulysses,  sudden  as  the  voice  he  sent, 

Awakes,  starts  up,  and  issues  from  his  tent. 

“  What  new  distress,  what  sudden  cause  of  fright, 
Thus  leads  you  wandering  in  the  silent  night  1”  161 
“Oh  prudent  chief!”  the  Pylian  sage  replied, 

“  Wise  as  thou  art,  be  now  thy  wisdom  tried: 


238 


HOMER. 


Whatever  means  of  safety  can  be  sought, 

Whatever  counsels  can  inspire  our  thought,  165 
Whatever  methods,  or  to  fly  or  fight ; 

All,  all  depend  on  this  important  night !” 

He  heard,  return’d,  and  took  his  painted  shield; 
Then  join’d  the  chiefs,  and  follow’d  through  the  field. 
Without  his  tent,  bold  Diomed  they  found,  170 
All  sheath’d  in  arms,  his  brave  companions  round: 
Each  sunk  in  sleep,  extended  on  the  field, 

His  head  reclining  on  his  bossy  shield. 

A  wood  of  spears  stood  by,  that,  fix’d  upright, 

Shot  from  their  flashing  points  a  quivering  light.  175 
A  bull’s  black  hide  composed  the  hero’s  bed  ; 

A  splendid  carpet  roll’d  beneath  his  head. 

Then,  with  his  foot,  old  Nestor  gently  shakes 
The  slumbering  chief,  and  in  these  words  awakes : 

“  Rise,  son  of  Tydeus !  to  the  brave  and  strong  180 
Rest  seems  inglorious,  and  the  night  too  long. 

But  sleep’st  thou  now  1  when  from  yon  hill  the  foe 
Hangs  o’er  the  fleet,  and  shades  our  walls  below  1” 
At  this,  soft  slumber  from  his  eyelids  fled ; 

The  warrior  saw  the  hoary  chief,  and  said  :  185 

“  Wondrous  old  man  !  whose  soul  no  respite  knows, 
Though  years  and  honours  bid  thee  seek  repose. 

Let  younger  Greeks  our  sleeping  warriors  wake: 

Ill  fits  thy  age  these  toils  to  undertake.”  189 

“  My  friend,”  he  answer’d,  “generous  is  thy  care, 
These  toils,  my  subjects  and  my  sons  might  bear; 
Their  loyal  thoughts  and  pious  love  conspire 
To  ease  a  sovereign,  and  relieve  a  sire. 

But  now  the  last  despair  surrounds  our  host : 

No  hour  must  pass,  no  moment  must  be  lost :  195 

Each  single  Greek  in  this  conclusive  strife, 

Stands  on  the  sharpest  edge  of  death  or  life  : 

Yet,  if  my  years  thy  kind  regard  engage, 

Employ  thy  youth  as  I  employ  my  age ; 

Succeed  to  these  my  cares,  and  rouse  the  rest ;  200 
He  serves  me  most,  who  serves  his  country  best.” 


ILIAD. — BOOK  X. 


239 


This  said,  the  hero  o’er  his  shoulders  flung 
A  lion’s  spoils,  that  to  his  ankles  hung ; 

Then  seized  his  ponderous  lance,  and  strode  along. 
Meges  the  bold,  with  Ajax  famed  for  speed,  205 
The  warrior  roused,  and  to  the  intrenchments  led. 

And  now  the  chiefs  approach  the  nightly  guard; 

A  wakeful  squadron,  each  in  arms  prepared: 

The  unwearied  watch  their  listening  leaders  keep, 
And,  couching  close,  repel  invading  sleep.  210 

So  faithful  dogs  their  fleecy  charge  maintain, 

With  toil  protected  from  the  prowling  train  ; 

When  the  gaunt  lioness,  with  hunger  bold, 

Springs  from  the  mountains  towards  the  guarded 
fold ; 

Through  breaking  woods  her  rustling  course  they 
hear;  215 

Loud,  and  more  loud,  the  clamours  strike  their  ear 
Of  hounds  and  men  ;  they  start,  they  gaze  around, 
Watch  every  side,  and  turn  to  every  sound. 

Thus  watch’d  the  Grecians,  cautious  of  surprise, 
Each  voice,  each  motion,  drew  their  ears  and  eyes; 
Each  step  of  passing  feet  increased  the  affright ;  221 
And  hostile  Troy  was  ever  full  in  sight. 

Nestor  with  joy  the  wakeful  band  survey’d, 

And  thus  accosted  through  the  gloomy  shade  : 

“  ’Tis  well,  my  sons  !  your  nightly  cares  employ ; 
Else  must  our  host  become  the  scorn  of  Troy.  226 
Watch  thus,  and  Greece  shall  live.”  The  hero  said  ; 
Then  o’er  the  trench  the  following  chieftains  led. 

His  son,  and  godlike  Merion,  march’d  behind. 

(For  these  the  princes  to  their  council  join’d.)  230 
The  trenches  pass’d,  the  assembled  kings  around 
In  silent  state  the  consistory  crown’d. 

A  place  there  was  yet  undefiled  with  gore, 

The  spot  where  Hector  stopp’d  his  rage  before  ; 
When  night  descending,  from  his  vengeful  hand  235 
Reprieved  the  relics  of  the  Grecian  band  : 

(The  plain  beside  with  mangled  corps  was  spread, 
And  all  his  progress  mark’d  by  heaps  of  dead.) 


240 


HOMER. 


There  sat  the  mournful  kings ;  when  Neleus’  son 
The  council  opening,  in  these  words  begun :  240 

“  Is  there,”  said  he,  “  a  chief  so  greatly  brave, 

His  life  to  hazard,  and  his  country  save  ? 

Lives  there  a  man,  who  singly  dares  to  go 
To  yonder  camp,  or  seize  some  straggling  foe  ? 

Or,  favour’d  by  the  night,  approach  so  near,  245 
Their  speech,  their  counsels,  and  designs  to  hear? 

If  to  besi  ge  our  navies  they  prepare, 

Or  Troy  once  more  must  be  the  seat  of  war? 

This  could  he  learn,  and  to  our  peers  recite, 

And  pass  unharm’d  the  dangers  of  the  night ;  250 

What  fame  were  his  through  all  succeeding  days, 
While  Phoebus  shines,  or  men  have  tongues  to 
praise ! 

What  gifts  his  grateful  country  would  bestow! 

What  must  not  Greece  to  her  deliverer  owe ! 

A  sable  ewe  each  leader  should  provide,  255 

With  each  a  sable  lambkin  by  her  side  ; 

At  every  rite  his  share  should  be  increased, 

And  his  the  foremost  honours  of  the  feast.” 

Fear  held  them  mute :  alone  untaught  to  fear, 
Tydides  spoke  :  “  The  man  you  seek  is  here.  260 
Through  yon  black  camps  to  bend  my  dangerous 
way, 

Some  god  within  commands,  and  I  obey. 

But  let  some  other  chosen  warrior  join, 

To  raise  my  hopes,  and  second  my  design. 

By  mutual  confidence,  and  mutual  aid,  265 

Great  deeds  are  done,  and  great  discoveries  nude ; 
The  wise  new  prudence  from  the  wise  acquire, 

And  one  brave  hero  fans  another’s  fire.” 

Contending  leaders  at  the  word  arose ; 

Each  generous  breast  with  emulation  glows :  270 

So  brave  a  task  each  Ajax  strove  to  share, 

Bold  Merion  strove,  and  Nestor’s  valiant  heir ; 

The  Spartan  wish’d  the  second  place  to  gain, 

And  great  Ulysses  wish’d,  nor  wish’d  in  vain. 


ILIAD. — BOCtfC  X. 


241 


Then  thus  the  king  of  men  the  contest  ends  :  275 

“  Thou  first  of  warriors,  and  thou  best  of  friends, 
Undaunted  Diomed !  what  chief  to  join 
In  this  great  enterprise,  is  only  thine. 

Just  be  thy  choice,  without  affection  made ; 

To  birth  or  office  no  respect  be  paid ;  280 

Let  worth  determine  here.”  The  monarch  spake, 
And  inly  trembled  for  his  brother’s  sake. 

“  Then  thus,”  the  godlike  Diomed  rejoin’d, 

“  My  choice  declares  the  impulse  of  my  mind. 

How  can  I  doubt  while  great  Ulysses  stands  285 
To  lend  his  counsels,  and  assist  our  hands'? 

A  chief,  whose  safety  is  Minerva’s  care; 

So  famed,  so  dreadful  in  the  works  of  war : 

Bless’d  in  his  conduct,  I  no  aid  require ; 

Wisdom  like  his  might  pass  through  flames  of  fire.” 

“  It  fits  thee  not,  before  these  chiefs  of  fame,”  291 
Replied  the  sage,  “  to  praise  me  or  to  blame : 

Praise  from  a  friend,  or  censure  from  a  foe, 

Are  lost  on  hearers  that  our  merits  know\ 

But  let  us  haste — night  rolls  the  hours  away,  295 
The  redd’ning  orient  shows  the  coming  day, 

The  stars  shine  fainter  on  the  ethereal  plains, 

And  of  night’s  empire  but  a  third  remains.” 

Thus  having  spoke,  with  generous  ardour  press’d, 
In  arms  terrific  their  huge  limbs  they  dress’d.  300 
A  two-edged  falchion  Thrasymed  the  brave, 

And  ample  buckler,  to  Tydides  gave : 

Then  in  a  leathern  helm  he  cased  his  head, 

Short  of  its  crest,  and  with  no  plume  o’erspread : 
(Such  as  by  youths  unused  to  arms  are  worn ;  305 

No  spoils  enrich  it,  and  no  studs  adorn.) 

Next  him  Ulysses  took  a  shining  sword, 

A  bow,  and  quiver  with  bright  arrows  stored  : 

A  well-proved  casque,  with  leather  braces  bound, 
(Thy  gift,  Meriones,)  his  temples  crown’d :  310 

Soft  wool  within ;  without,  in  order  spread, 

A  boar’s  white  teeth  grinn’d  horrid  o’er  his  head. 
hom. — i. — x 


242 


HOMER. 


This  from  Amyntor,  rich  Ormenus’  son, 

Autolycus  by  fraudful  rapine  won, 

And  gave  Amphidamus;  from  him  the  prize  315 
Molus  received,  the  pledge  of  social  ties  ; 

The  helmet  next  by  Merion  was  possess’d, 

And  now  Ulysses’  thoughtful  temples  press’d. 

Thus  sheath’d  in  arms,  the  council  they  forsake, 

And  dark  through  paths  oblique  their  progress  take. 
Just  then,  in  sign  she  favour'd  their  intent,  321 
A  long- wing’d  heron  great  Minerva  sent  r 
This,  though  surrounding  shades  obscured  their 
view, 

By  the  shrill  clang  and  whistling  wings,  they  knew. 
As  from  the  right  she  soar’d,  Ulysses  pray’d,  325 
Hail’d  the  glad  omen,  and  address’d  the  maid : 

“  Oh  daughter  of  that  god,  whose  arm  can  wield 
The  avenging  bolt,  and  shake  the  dreadful  shield ! 

Oh  thou  !  for  ever  present  in  my  way, 

Who  all  my  motions,  all  my  toils  survey !  330 

Safe  may  we  pass  beneath  the  gloomy  shade, 

Safe  by  thy  succour  to  our  ships  convey’d ! 

And  let  some  deed  this  signal  night  adorn, 

To  claim  the  tears  of  Trojans  yet  unborn.” 

Then  godlike  Diomed  preferr’d  his  prayer ;  335 

“  Daughter  of  Jove,  unconquer’d  Pallas !  hear. 

Great  queen  of  arms,  whose  favour  Tydeus  won, 

As  thou  defend’st  the  sire,  defend  the  son. 

When  on  jEsopus’  banks  the  banded  powers 
Of  Greece  he  left,  and  sought  the  Theban  towers, 
Peace  was  his  charge  ;  received  with  peaceful 
show,  341 

He  went  a  legate,  but  return’d  a  foe : 

Then  help’d  by  thee,  and  cover’d  by  thy  shield. 

He  fought  with  numbers,  and  made  numbers  yield. 

So  now  be  present,  oh  celestial  maid !  345 

So  still  continue  to  the  race  thine  aid ! 

A  youthful  steer  shall  fall  beneath  the  stroke, 
Untamed,  unconscious  of  the  galling  yoke, 


ILIAD. - BOOK  X. 


243 


With  ample  forehead,  and  with  spreading  horns, 
Whose  taper  tops  refulgent  gold  adorns.”  350 

The  heroes  pray'd,  and  Pallas  from  the  skies 
Accords  their  vow,  succeeds  their  enterprise. 

Now,  like  two  lions  panting  for  the  prey, 

With  deathful  thoughts  they  trace  the  dreary  way, 
Through  the  black  horrors  of  the  ensanguined  plain, 
Through  dust,  through  blood,  o’er  arms  and  hills  of 
slain.  356 

Nor  less  bold  Hector,  and  the  sons  of  Troy, 

On  high  designs  the  wakeful  hours  employ ; 

The  assembled  peers  their  lofty  chief  enclosed, 

Who  thus  the  counsels  of  his  breast  proposed :  360 

“  WThat  glorious  man,  for  high  attempts  prepared, 
Dares  greatly  venture  for  a  rich  reward! 

Of  yonder  fleet  a  bold  discovery  make, 

What  watch  they  keep,  and  what  resolves  they 
take  ? 

If  now  subdued  they  meditate  their  flight,  365 

And,  spent  with  toil,  neglect  the  watch  of  night  ? 

His  be  the  chariot  that  shall  please  him  most, 

Of  all  the  plunder  of  the  vanquish’d  host; 

His  the  fair  steeds  that  all  the  rest  excel, 

And  his  the  glory  to  have  served  so  well.”  370 
A  youth  there  was  among  the  tribes  of  Troy, 
Dolon  his  name,  Eumedes’  only  boy  : 

(Five  girls  beside  the  reverend  herald  told  :) 

Rich  was  the  son  in  brass,  and  rich  in  gold ;  * 

Not  bless’d  by  nature  with  the  charms  of  face,  375 
But  swift  of  foot,  and  matchless  in  the  race. 

“  Hector,”  he  said,  “  my  courage  bids  me  meet 
This  high  achievement,  and  explore  the  fleet  : 

But  first  exalt  thy  sceptre  to  the  skies, 

And  swear  to  grant  me  the  demanded  prize ;  380 

The  immortal  coursers,  and  the  glittering  car, 

That  bear  Pelides  through  the  ranks  of  war. 
Encouraged  thus,  no  idle  scout  I  go, 

Fulfil  thy  wish,  their  whole  intention  know, 


244 


HOMER. 


Ev’n  to  the  royal  tent  pursue  my  way,  385 

And  all  their  counsels,  all  their  aims  betray.” 

The  chief  then  heaved  the  golden  sceptre  high, 
Attesting  thus  the  monarch  of  the  sky : 

“  Be  witness  thou !  immortal  lord  of  all ! 

Whose  thunder  shakes  the  dark  aerial  hall :  390 

By  none  but  Dolon  shall  this  prize  be  borne, 

And  him  alone  the  immortal  steeds  adorn.” 

Thus  Hector  swore :  the  gods  were  call'd  in  vain, 
But  the  rash  youth  prepares  to  scour  the  plain : 
Across  his  back  the  bended  bow  he  flung,  395 

A  wolfs  gray  hide  around  his  shoulders  hung; 

A  ferret’s  downy  fur  his  helmet  lined, 

And  in  his  hand  a  pointed  javelin  shined. 

Then,  never  to  return,  he  sought  the  shore, 

And  trod  the  path  his  feet  must  tread  no  more.  400 
Scarce  had  he  pass’d  the  steeds  and  Trojan  throng, 
(Still,  bending  forward  as  he  coursed  along,) 

When,  on  the  hollow  way,  the  approaching  tread 
Ulysses  mark’d,  and  thus  to  Diomed : 

“  Oh  friend !  I  hear  some  step  of  hostile  feet  405 
Moving  this  way,  or  hastening  to  the  fleet ; 

Some  spy,  perhaps,  to  lurk  beside  the  main, 

Or  nightly  pillager  that  strips  the  slain. 

Yet  let  him  pass,  and  win  a  little  space ; 

Then  rush  behind  him,  and  prevent  his  pace.  410 

But  if  too  swift  of  foot  he  flies  before, 

Confine  his  course  along  the  fleet  and  shore, 
Between  the  camp  and  him  our  spears  employ, 

And  intercept  his  hoped  return  to  Troy.” 

With  that  they  stepp’d  aside,  and  stoop’d  their 
head,  415 

As  Dolon  pass’d,  behind  a  heap  of  dead  : 

Along  the  path  the  spy  unwary  flew ; 

Soft,  at  just  distance,  both  the  chiefs  pursue. 

So  distant  they,  and  such  the  space  between, 

As  when  two  teams  of  mules  divide  the  green,  420 
(To  whom  the  hind  like  shares  of  land  allows,) 
When  now  few  furrows  part  the  approaching  ploughs. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  X. 


245 


Now  Dolon  list’ning  heard  them  as  they  pass’d ; 
Hector,  he  thought,  had  sent,  and  check’d  his  haste, 
Till,  scarce  at  distance  of  a  javelin’s  throw,  425 
No  voice  succeeding,  he  perce'ived  the  foe. 

As  when  two  skilful  hounds  the  leveret  wind  ; 

Or  chase  through  woods  obscure  the  trembling  hind : 
Now  lost,  now  seen,  they  intercept  his  way, 

And  from  the  herd  still  turn  the  flying  prey :  430 

So  fast,  and  with  such  fears,  the  Trojan  flew  ; 

So  close,  so  constant,  the  bold  Greeks  pursue. 

Now  almost  on  the  fleet  the  dastard  falls, 

And  mingles  with  the  guards  that  watch  the  walls; 
When  brave  Tydides  stopp’d  ;  a  generous  thought. 
Inspired  by  Pallas,  in  his  bosom  wrought,  436 

Lest  on  the  foe  some  forward  Greek  advance, 

And  snatch  the  glory  from  his  lifted  lance. 

Then  thus  aloud:  “  Whoe’er  thou  art,  remain; 

This  javelin  else  shall  fix  thee  to  the  plain.”  440 
He  said,  and  high  in  air  the  weapon  cast, 

Which  wilful  err’d,  and  o’er  his  shoulder  pass’d  ; 
Then  fix’d  in  earth.  Against  the  trembling  wood 
The  wretch  stood  propp’d,  and  quiver’d  as  he  stood  : 
A  sudden  palsy  seized  his  turning  head  ;  445 

His  loose  teeth  chatter’d,  and  his  colour  fled. 

The  panting  warriors  seize  him  as  he  stands, 

And  with  unmanly  tears  his  life  demands. 

“  Oh  spare  my  youth,  and  for  the  breath  I  owe, 
Large  gifts  of  price  my  father  shall  bestow.  450 
Vast  heaps  of  brass  shall  in  your  ships  be  told, 

And  steel  well  temper’d,  and  refulgent  gold.” 

To  whom  Ulysses  made  this  wise  reply  : 
“Whoe’er  thou  art,  be  bold,  nor  fear  to  die. 

What  moves  thee,  say,  when  sleep  has  closed  the 
sight,  455 

To  roam  the  silent  fields  in  dead  of  night  1 
Cam’st  thou  the  secrets  of  our  camp  to  find, 

By  Hector  prompted,  or  thy  daring  mind  1 
Or  art  some  wretch  by  hopes  of  plunder  led 
Through  heaps  of  carnage  to  despoil  the  dead  1”  460 

x  2 


2*6 


HOMER. 


Then  thus  pale  Dolon  with  a  fearful  look : 

(Still  as  he  spoke  his  limbs  with  horror  shook  :) 

“  Hither  1  came,  by  Hector’s  words  deceived; 

Much  did  he  promise,  rashly  I  believed: 

No  less  a  bribe  than  great  Achilles’  car,  465 

And  those  swift  steeds  that  sweep  the  ranks  of  war, 
Urged  me,  unwilling,  this  attempt  to  make ; 

To  learn  what  counsels,  what  resolves  you  take : 

If,  now  subdued,  you  fix  your  hopes  on  flight,  469 
And  tired  with  toils,  neglect  the  watch  of  night.” 

“  Bold  was  thy  aim,  and  glorious  was  the  prize  !” 
Ulysses  with  a  scornful  smile  replies. 

“  Far  other  rulers  those  proud  steeds  demand, 

And  scorn  the  guidance  of  a  vulgar  hand  ; 

Ev’n  great  Achilles  scarce  their  rage  can  tame,  475 
Achilles,  sprung  from  an  immortal  dame. 

But  say,  be  faithful,  and  the  truth  recite ; 

Where  lies  encamp’d  the  Trojan  chief  to-night  1 
Where  stand  his  coursers  1  in  what  quarter  sleep 
Their  other  princes  1  tell  what  watch  they  keep : 
Say,  since  their  conquest,  what  their  counsels  are ; 
Or  here  to  combat,  from  their  city  far,  482 

Or  back  to  Ilion’s  walls  transfer  the  war.” 

Ulysses  thus,  and  thus  Eumedes’son: 

“What  Dolon  knows,  his  faithful  tongue  shall  own. 
Hector,  the  peers  assembling  in  his  tent,  486 

A  council  holds  at  Hus’  monument. 

No  certain  guards  the  nightly  watch  partake ; 
Where’er  yon  fires  ascend,  the  Trojans  wake : 
Anxious  for  Troy,  the  guard  the  natives  keep ;  490 
Safe  in  their  cares,  the  auxiliar  forces  sleep, 

Whose  wives  and  infants,  from  the  danger  far, 
Discharge  their  souls  of  half  the  fears  of  war.” 

“  Then  sleep  those  aids  among  the  Trojan  train,” 
Inquired  the  chief,  “  or  scatter’d  o’er  the  plain  1”  495 
To  whom  the  spy  :  “  Their  powers  they  thus  dis- 
•  pose : 

The  Paeons,  dreadful  with  their  bended  bows, 


ILIAD. — BOOK  X. 


247 


The  Carians,  Caucons,  the  Pelasgian  host, 

And  Leleges,  encamp  along  the  coast. 

Not  distant  far,  lie  higher  on  the  land  500 

The  Lycian,  Mysian,  and  Maeonian  band, 

And  Phrygia’s  horse,  by  Thymbras’  ancient  wall ; 
The  Thracians  utmost,  and  apart  from  all. 

These  Troy  but  lately  to  her  succour  won, 

Led  on  by  Rhesus,  great  Eioneus’  son :  505 

I  saw  his  coursers  in  proud  triumph  go, 

Swift  as  the  wind,  and  white  as  winter  snow: 

Rich  silver  plates  his  shining  car  infold  ; 

His  solid  arms,  refulgent,  flame  with  gold; 

No  mortal  shoulders  suit  the  glorious  load,  510 
Celestial  panoply,  to  grace  a  god  ! 

Let  me,  unhappy,  to  your  fleet  be  borne, 

Or  leave  me  here,  a  captive’s  fate  to  mourn, 

In  cruel  chains  ;  till  your  return  reveal 
The  truth  or  falsehood  of  the  news  I  tell.”  515 
To  this  Tydides,  with  a  gloomy  frown  : 

“  Think  not  to  live,  though  all  the  truth  be  shown : 
Shall  we  dismiss  thee,  in  some  future  strife 
To  risk  more  bravely  thy  now  forfeit  life  1 
Or  that  again  our  camps  thou  mayst  explore  1  520 

No — once  a  traitor,  thou  betray’st  no  more.” 

Sternly  he  spoke  ;  and  as  the  wretch  prepared 
With  humble  blandishment  to  stroke  his  beard, 

Like  lightning  swift  the  wrathful  falchion  flew, 
Divides  the  neck,  and  cuts  the  nerves  in  two  ;  525 

One  instant  snatch’d  his  trembling  soul  to  hell, 

The  head  yet  speaking,  mutter’d  as  it  fell. 

The  furry  helmet  from  his  brow  they  tear, 

The  wolf’s  gray  hide,  the  unbended  bow  and  spear; 
These  great  Ulysses  lifted  to  the  skies,  530 

To  fav’ring  Pallas  dedicates  the  prize. 

“  Great  queen  of  arms !  receive  this  hostile  spoil, 
And  let  the  Thracian  steeds  reward  our  toil : 

Thee  first  of  all  the  heavenly  host  we  praise; 

Oh  speed  our  labours,  and  direct  our  ways !” 


535 


248 


HOMER. 


This  said,  the  spoils,  with  dropping  gore  defaced, 
High  on  a  spreading  tamarisk  he  placed : 

Then  heap’d  with  reeds  and  gather’d  boughs  the  plain, 
To  guide  their  footsteps. to  the  place  again. 

Through  the  still  night  they  cross  the  devious 
fields,  540 

Slippery  with  blood,  o’er  arms  and  heaps  of  shields 
Arriving  where  the  Thracian  squadron  lay, 

And  eased  in  sleep  the  labours  of  the  day, 

Ranged  in  three  lines  they  view  the  prostrate  band: 
The  horses  yoked  beside.each  warrior  stand  ;  545 

Their  arms  in  order  on  the  ground  reclined, 

Through  the  brown  shade  the  fulgid  weapons  shined ; 
Amid  lay  Rhesus,  stretch’d  in  sleep  profound, 

And  the  white  steeds  behind  his  chariot  bound. 

The  welcome  sight  Ulysses  first  descries,  550 

And  points  to  Diomed  the  tempting  prize. 

The  man,  the  coursers,  and  the  car  behold ! 
Described  by  Dolon,  with  the  arms  of  gold. 

“Now,  brave  Tydides  !  now  thy  courage  try, 
Approach  the  chariot,  and  the  steeds  untie ;  555 

Or  if  thy  soul  aspire  to  fiercer  deeds, 

Urge  thou  the  slaughter,  while  I  seize  the  steeds.” 

Pallas,  this  said,  her  hero’s  bosom  warms, 
Breathed  in  his  heart,  and  strung  his  nervous  arms  ; 
Where’er  he  pass’d,  a  purple  stream  pursued :  560 

His  thirsty  falchion,  fat  with  hostile  blood, 

Bathed  all  his  footsteps,  died  the  fields  with  gore, 
And  a  low  groan  remurmur’d  through  the  shore. 

So  the  grim  lion,  from  his  nightly  den, 

O’erleaps  the  fences,  and  invades  the  pen ;  565 

On  sheep  or  goats,  resistless  in  his  way, 

He  falls,  and  foaming  rends  the  guardless  prey. 

Nor  stopp’d  the  fury  of  his  vengeful  hand, 

Till  twelve  lay  breathless  of  the  Thracian  band. 
Ulysses  following,  as  his  partner  slew,  570 

Back  by  the  foot  each  slaughter’d  warrior  drew ; 

The  milk-white  coursers  studious  to  convey 
Safe  to  the  ships,  he  wisely  clear’d  the  way, 


ILIAD. - BOOK  X. 


249 


Lest  the  fierce  steeds,  not  yet  to  battles  bred, 

Should  start,  and  tremble  at  the  heaps  of  dead.  575 
Now  twelve  despatch’d,  the  monarch  last  they  found; 
Tydides’  falchion  fix’d  him  to  the  ground. 

Just  then  a  dreadful  dream  Minerva  sent; 

A  warlike  form  appear’d  before  his  tent, 

Whose  visionary  steel  his  bosom  tore  :  580 

So  dream’d  the  monarch,  and  awaked  no  more. 

Ulysses  now  the  snowy  steeds  detains, 

And  leads  them,  fasten’d  by  the  silver  reins ; 

These  with  his  bow  unbent  he  lash’d  along : 

(The  scourge,  forgot,  on  Rhesus’  chariot  hung.)  585 
Then  gave  his  friend  the  signal  to  retire ; 

But  him,  new  dangers,  new  achievements  fire : 
Doubtful  he  stood,  or  with  his  reeking  blade 
To  send  more  heroes  to  the  infernal  shade, 

Drag  off  the  car  where  Rhesus’  armour  lay,  590 
Or  heave  with  manly  force,  and  lift  away. 

While  unresolved  the  son  of  Tydeus  stands, 

Pallas  appears,  and  thus  her  chief  commands : 

“  Enough,  my  sons;  from  further  slaughter  cease, 
Regard  thy  safety,  and  depart  in  peace ;  595 

Haste  to  the  ships,  the  gotten  spoil  enjoy, 

Nor  tempt  too  far  the  hostile  gods  of  Troy.” 

The  voice  divine  confess’d  the  martial  maid: 

In  haste  he  mounted,  and  her  word  obey’d ; 

The  coursers  fly  before  Ulysses’  bow,  600 

Swift  as  the  wind,  and  white  as  winter  snow. 

Not  unobserved  they  pass’d :  the  god  of  light 
Had  watch’d  his  Troy,  and  mark’d  Minerva’s  flight. 
Saw  Tydeus’  son  with  heavenly  succour  bless’d, 

And  vengeful  anger  fill’d  his  sacred  breast.  605 
Swift  to  the  Trojan  camp  descends  the  power, 

And  wakes  Hippocoon  in  the  morning  hour : 

(On  Rhesus’  side  accustom’d  to  attend, 

A  faithful  kinsman,  and  instructive  friend.) 

He  rose  and  saw  the  field  deform’d  with  blood,  610 
An  empty  space  where  late  the  coursers  stood, 


250 


HOMER. 


The  yet  warm  Thracians  panting  on  the  coast ; 

For  each  he  wept,  but  for  his  Rhesus  most. 

Now  while  on  Rhesus’  name  he  calls  in  vain, 

The  gathering  tumult  spreads  o’er  all  the  plain;  615 
On  heaps  the  Trojans  rush,  with  wild  affright, 

And  wondering  view  the  slaughters  of  the  night. 

Meanwhile  the  chiefs  arriving  at  the  shade 
Where  late  the  spoils  of  Hector’s  spy  were  laid, 
Ulysses  stopp’d  ;  to  him  Tydides  bore  620 

The  trophy,  dropping  yet  with  Dolon’s  gore  : 

Then  mounts  again  ;  again  their  nimble  feet 
The  coursers  ply,  and  thunder  tow’rds  the  fleet. 

Old  Nestor  first  perceived  the  approaching  sound, 
Bespeaking  thus  the  Grecian  peers  around  :  625 

“  Methinks  the  noise  of  trampling  steeds  I  hear, 
Thickening  this  way,  and  gathering  on  my  ear ; 
Perhaps  some  horses  of  the  Trojan  breed 
(So  may,  ye  gods,  my  pious  hopes  succeed !) 

The  great  Tydides  and  Ulysses  bear,  630 

Return’d  triumphant  with  this  prize  of  war. 

Yet  much  1  fear  (ah,  may  that  fear  be  vain  !) 

The  chiefs  outnumber’d  by  the  Trojan  train  ; 

Perhaps  ev’n  now  pursued,  they  seek  the  shore  ; 

Or,  oh !  perhaps  these  heroes  are  no  more.”  635 
Scarce  had  he  spoke,  when,  lo !  the  chiefs  appear, 
And  spring  to  earth  ;  the  Greeks  dismiss  their  fear; 
With  words  of  friendship  and  extended  hands 
They  greet  the  kings ;  and  Nestor  first  demands  : 

“  Say  thou,  whose  praises  all  our  hosts  proclaim, 
Thou  living  glory  of  the  Grecian  name  !  641 

Say  whence  these  coursers  1  by  what  chance  be¬ 
stow’d  1 

The  spoil  of  foes,  or  present  of  a  god  1 
Not  those  fair  steeds,  so  radiant  and  so  gay, 

That  draw  the  burning  chariot  of  the  day.  645 
Old  as  I  am,  to  age  I  scorn  to  yield, 

And  daily  mingle  in  the  martial  field; 

But  sure  till  now  no  coursers  struck  my  sight 
Like  these,  conspicuous  through  the  ranks  of  fight. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  X.  251 

Some  god,  I  deem,  conferr’d  the  glorious  prize,  650 
Bless’d  as  ye  are,  and  favourites  of  the  skies  ; 

The  care  of  him  who  bids  the  thunder  roar, 

And  her,  whose  fury  bathes  the  world  with  gore.” 

“Father!  not  so,”  sage  Ithacus  rejoin’d; 

“  The  gifts  of  heaven  are  of  a  nobler  kind.  055 

Of  Thracian  lineage  are  the  steeds  ye  view, 

Whose  hostile  king  the  brave  Tydides  slew  : 
Sleeping  he  died,  with  all  his  guards  around, 

And  twelve  beside  lay  gasping  on  the  ground. 

These  other  spoils  from  conquer’d  Dolon  came ;  660 
A  wretch,  whose  swiftness  was  his  only  fame, 

By  Hector  sent  our  forces  to  explore: 

He  now  lies  headless  on  the  sandy  shore.” 

Then  o’er  the  trench  the  bounding  coursers  flew ; 
The  joyful  Greeks  with  loud  acclaim  pursue.  665 
Straight  to  Tydides’  high  pavilion  borne, 

The  matchless  steeds  his  ample  stalls  adorn : 

The  neighing  coursers  their  new  fellows  greet, 

And  the  full  racks  are  heap’d  with  generous  wheat. 
But  Dolon’s  armour  to  his  ships  convey’d,  670 
High  on  the  painted  stern  Ulysses  laid, 

A  trophy  destined  to  the  blue-eyed  maid. 

Now  from  nocturnal  sweat,  and  sanguine  stain. 
They  cleanse  their  bodies  in  the  neighbouring  main : 
Then  in  the  polish’d  bath,  refresh’d  from  toil,  675 
Their  joints  they  supple  with  dissolving  oil, 

In  due  repast  indulged  the  genial  hour, 

And  first  to  Pallas  the  libations  pour : 

They  sit  rejoicing  in  her  aid  divine,  679 

And  the  crown’d  goblet  foams  with  floods  of  wine. 


653  Minerva. 


BOOK  XI. 


ARGUMENT. 

The  third  Battle ,  and  the  Acts  of  Agamemnon. 

• 

Agamemnon,  having  armed  himself,  leads  the  Grecians  to  bat¬ 
tle;  Hector  prepares  the  Trojans  to  receive  them;  while  Ju¬ 
piter,  Juno,  and  Minerva  give  the  signals  of  war — Agamem¬ 
non  bears  all  before  him ;  and  Hector  is  commanded  by  Jupiter, 
who  sends  Iris  for  that  purpose,  to  decline  the  engagement 
till  the  king  shall  be  wounded  and  retire  from  the  field — He 
then  makes  a  great  slaughter  of  the  enemy ;  Ulysses  and 
Diomed  put  a  stop  to  him  for  a  time ;  but  the  latter  being 
wounded  by  Paris,  is  obliged  to  desert  his  companion,  who  i» 
encompassed  by  the  Trojans,  wounded,  and  in  the  utmost, 
danger,  till  Menelaus  and  Ajax  rescue  him — Hector  comes 
against  Ajax ;  but  that  hero  alone  opposes  multitudes,  and 
rallies  the  Greeks — In  the  mean  time  Machaon,  in  the  other 
wing  of  tne  army,  is  pierced  with  an  arrow  by  Paris,  and 
carried  from  the  fight  in  Nestor’s  chariot — Achilles,  who  over¬ 
looked  the  action  from  his  ship,  sends  Patroclus  to  inquire 
which  of  the  Greeks  was  wounded  in  that  manner — Nestor 
entertains  him  in  his  tent  with  an  account  of  the  accidents 
of  the  day,  and  a  long  recital  of  some  former  wars  which  he 
remembered,  tending  to  put  Patroclus  on  persuading  Achilles 
to  fight  for  his  countrymen,  or  at  least  permit  him  to  do  it, 
clad  in  Achilles’  armour — Patroclus  in  his  return  meets  Eu- 
rypylus  also  wounded,  and  assists  him  in  that  distress. — 
[This  book  opens  with  the  eight-and-twentieth  day  of  the 
poem ;  and  the  same  day,  with  its  various  actions  and  adven¬ 
tures,  is  extended  through  the  twelfth,  thirteenth,  fourteenth, 
fifteenth,  sixteenth,  seventeenth,  and  part  of  the  eighteenth 
books.  The  scene  lies  in  the  field,  near  the  monument  of 
Ilus.] 


The  saffron  morn,  with  early  blushes  spread, 
Now  rose  refulgent  from  Tithonus’  bed ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI. 


253 


With  newborn  day  to  gladden  mortal  sight, 

And  gild  the  courts  of  heaven  with  sacred  light ; 
When  baleful  Eris,  sent  by  Jove’s  command,  5 
The  torch  of  discord  blazing  in  her  hand, 

Through  the  red  skies  her  bloody  sign  extends, 

And  wrapp’d  in  tempests,  o’er  the  fleet  descends. 
High  on  Ulysses’  bark,  her  horrid  stand 
She  took,  and  thunder’d  through  the  seas  and  land. 
Ev’n  Ajax  and  Achilles  heard  the  sound,  11 

Whose  ships,  remote,  the  guarded  navy  bound. 
Thence  the  black  fury  through  the  Grecian  throng 
With  horror  sounds  the  loud  Orthian  song: 

The  navy  shakes,  and  at  the  dire  alarms  15 

Each  bosom  boils,  each  warrior  starts  to  arms. 

No  more  they  sigh  inglorious  to  return, 

But  breathe  revenge,  and  for  the  combat  burn. 

The  king  of  men  his  hardy  host  inspires 
Whth  loud  command,  with  great  example  fires;  20 
Himself  first  rose,  himself  before  the  rest 
His  mighty  limbs  in  radiant  armour  dress’d. 

And  first  he  cased  his  manly  legs  around 
In  shining  greaves,  with  silver  buckles  bound  : 

The  beaming  cuirass  next  adorn’d  his  breast,  25 
The  same  which  once  King  Cinyras  possess’d. 

(The  fame  of  Greece  and  her  assembled  host 
Had  reach’d  that  monarch  on  the  Cyprian  coast ; 
’Twas  then,  the  friendship  of  the  chief  to  gain, 

This  glorious  gift  he  sent,  nor  sent  in  vain.)  30 
Ten  rows  of  azure  steel  the  work  infold, 

Twice  ten  of  tin,  and  twelve  of  ductile  gold  ; 

Three  glittering  dragons  to  the  gorget  rise, 

W'hose  imitated  scales  against  the  skies 
Reflected  various  light,  and  arching  bow’d,  35 

Like  colour’d  rainbows  o’er  a  showery  cloud — 
(Jove’s  wondrous  bow,  of  three  celestial  dies, 

Placed  as  a  sign  to  man  amid  the  skies.) 

A  radiant  baldric,  o’er  his  shoulder  tied, 

Sustain’d  the  sword  that  glitter’d  at  his  side : 
ttctvi — T. — Y 


40 


254 


HOMER. 


Gold  was  the  hilt,  a  silver  sheath  incased 
The  shining  blade,  and  golden  hangers  graced. 

His  buckler’s  mighty  orb  was  next  display’d, 

That  round  the  warrior  cast  a  dreadful  shade  ; 

Ten  zones  of  brass  its  ample  brim  surround,  45 
And  twice  ten  bosses  the  bright  convex  crown’d  ; 
Tremendous  Gorgon  frown’d  upon  its  field, 

And  circling  terrors  fill’d  the  expressive  shield : 
Within  its  concave  hung  a  silver  thong, 

On  which  a  mimic  serpent  creeps  along,  50 

His  azure  length  in  easy  waves  extends,  t 
Till  in  three  heads  the  embroider’d  monster  ends. 
Last  o’er  his  brows  his  fourfold  helm  he  placed, 
With  nodding  horse-hair  formidably  graced  ; 

And  in  his  hands  two  steely  javelins  wields,  55 
That  blaze  to  heaven,  and  lighten  all  the  fields. 

That  instant  Juno  and  the  martial  maid 
In  happy  thunders  promised  Greece  their  aid ; 

High  o’er  their  chief  they  clash’d  their  arms  in  air, 
And,  leaning  from  the  clouds,  expect  the  war.  60 
Close  to  the  limits  of  the  trench  and  mound, 

The  fiery  coursers  to  their  chariots  bound 
The  squires  restrain’d:  the  foot,  with  those  who 
wield 

The  lighter  arms,  rush  forward  to  the  field. 

To  second  these,  in  close  array  combined,  65 

The  squadrons  spread  their  sable  wings  behind. 

Now  shouts  and  tumults  wake  the  tardy  sun, 

As  with  the  light  the  warriors’  toils  begun. 

Ev’n  Jove,  whose  thunders  spoke  his  wrath,  distill’d 
Red  drops  of  blood  o’er  all  the  fatal  field  ;  70 

The  woes  of  men  unwilling  to  survey, 

And  all  the  slaughters  that  must  stain  the  day. 

Near  Ilus’  tomb  in  order  ranged  around, 

The  Trojan  lines  possess’d  the  rising  ground. 

There  wise  Polydamus  and  Hector  stood ;  75 

jEneas,  honour’d  as  a  guardian  god ; 

Bold  Polybus,  Agenor  the  divine  ; 

The  brother  warriors  of  Antenor’s  line ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI. 


255 


With  youthful  A camas,  whose  beauteous  face 
And  fair  proportion  match’d  the  ethereal  race.  80 
Great  Hector,  cover’d  with  his  spacious  shield, 

Plies  all  the  troops,  and  orders  all  the  field. 

As  the  red  star  now  shows  his  sanguine  fires 
Through  the  dark  clouds,  and  now  in  night  retires ; 
Thus  through  the  ranks  appear’d  the  godlike  man, 
Plunged  in  the  rear,  or  blazing  in  the  van;  86 

While  streamy  sparkles,  restless  as  he  flies, 

Flash  from  his  arms  as  lightning  from  the  skies. 

As  sweating  reapers  in  some  wealthy  field, 

Ranged  in  two  bands  their  crooked  weapons  wield, 
Bear  down  the  furrows,  till  their  labours  meet ;  91 

Thick  fall  the  heapy  harvest  at  their  feet : 

So  Greece  and  Troy  the  field  of  war  divide, 

And  falling  ranks  are  strew’d  on  every  side. 

None  stoop’d  a  thought  to  base  inglorious  flight ;  95 
But  horse  to  horse,  and  man  to  man  they  fight. 

Not  rabid  wolves  more  fierce  contest  their  prey  ; 
Each  wounds,  each  bleeds,  but  none  resign  the  day. 
Discord  with  joy  the  scene  of  death  descries, 

And  drinks  large  slaughter  at  her  sanguine  eyes  :  100 
Discord  alone,  of  all  the  immortal  train, 

Swells  the  red  horrors  of  this  direful  plain  : 

The  gods  in  peace  their  golden  mansions  fill, 

Ranged  in  bright  order  on  the  Olympian  hill ; 

But  general  murmurs  told  their  griefs  above,  105 
And  each  accused  the  partial  will  of  Jove. 
Meanwhile,  apart,  superior,  and  alone, 

The  eternal  monarch,  on  his  awful  throne, 

Wrapp’d  in  the  blaze  of  boundless  glory  sat; 

And  fix’d,  fulfill’d  the  just  decrees  of  fate.  110 

On  earth  he  turn’d  his  all-considering  eyes, 

And  mark’d  the  spot  where  Ilion’s  towers  arise ; 
The  sea  with  ships,  the  fields  with  armies  spread, 
The  victor’s  rage,  the  dying  and  the  dead.  114 

Thus  vhile  the  morning  beams  increasing  bright 
O’er  heaven’s  pure  azure  spread  the  growing  light, 


256 


HOMER. 


Commutual  death  the  fate  of  war  confounds, 

Each  adverse  battle  gored  witli  equal  wounds. 

But  now,  what  time  in  some  sequester’d  vale 
The  weary  woodman  spreads  his  sparing  meal,  120 
When  his  tired  arms  refuse  the  axe  to  rear, 

And  claim  a  respite  from  the  sylvan  war ; 

But  not  till  half  the  prostrate  forests  lay 
Stretch’d  in  long  ruin,  and  exposed  to  day, 

Then,  not  till  then,  the  Greeks’  impulsive  might  125 
Pierced  the  black  phalanx,  and  let  in  the  light. 

Great  Agamemnon  then  the  slaughter  led, 

And  slew  Bienor  at  his  people’s  head: 

Whose  squire  Oileus,  with  a  sudden  spring, 

Leap’d  from  the  chariot  to  revenge  his  king  ;  130 

But  in  his  front  he  felt  the  fatal  wound, 

Which  pierced  his  brain,  and  stretch’d  him  on  the 
ground. 

Atrides  spoil’d,  and  left  them  on  the  plain  : 

Vain  was  their  youth,  their  glittering  armour  vain: 
Now  soil’d  with  dust,  and  naked  to  the  sky,  135 
Their  snowy  limbs  and  beauteous  bodies  lie. 

Two  sons  of  Priam  next  to  battle  move, 

The  product,  one  of  marriage,  one  of  love  ; 

In  the  same  car  the  brother  warriors  ride, 

This  took  the  charge  to  combat,  that  to  guide :  140 

Far  other  task,  than  when  they  wont  to  keep, 

On  Ida’s  tops  their  father’s  fleecy  sheep. 

These  on  the  mountains  once  Achilles  found, 

And  captive  led,  with  pliant  osiers  bound  ; 

Then  to  the  sire  for  ample  sums  restored ;  145 

But  now  to  perish  by  Atrides’  sword  : 

Pierced  in  the  breast,  the  baseborn  Isus  bleeds ; 
Cleft  through  the  head,  his  brother’s  fate  succeeds. 
Swift  to  the  spoil  the  hasty  victor  falls, 

And  stripp’d,  their  features  to  his  mind  recalls.  150 
The  Trojans  see  the  youths  untimely  die, 

But  helpless  tremble  for  themselves,  and  fly. 

So  when  a  lion,  ranging  o’er  the  lawns, 

Finds,  on  some  grassy  lair,  the  couching  fawns,  154 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XI. 


257 


Their  bones  he  cracks,  their  reeking  vitals  draws, 
And  grinds  the  quivering  flesh  with  bloody  jaws  ; 
The  frighted  hind  beholds,  and  dares  not  stay, 

But  swift  through  rustling  thickets  bursts  her  way ; 
All  drown’d  in  sweat  the  panting  mother  flies, 

And  the  big  tears  roll  trickling  from  her  eyes.  160 
Amid  the  tumult  of  the  routed  train, 

The  sons  of  false  Antimachus  were  slain; 

He,  who  for  bribes  his  faithless  counsels  sold, 

And  voted  Helen’s  stay  for  Paris’  gold. 

Atrides  mark’d,  as  these  their  safety  sought,  165 
And  slew  the  children  for  the  father’s  fault ; 

Their  headstrong  horse  unable  to  restrain, 

They  shook  with  fear,  and  dropp’d  the  silken  rein ; 
Then  in  their  chariot  on  their  knees  they  fall, 

And  thus  with  lifted  hands  for  mercy  call :  170 

“  Oh  spare  our  youth,  and  for  the  life  we  owe 
Antimachus  shall  copious  gifts  bestow ; 

Soon  as  he  hears  that,  not  in  battle  slain, 

The  Grecian  ships  his  captive  sons  detain, 

Large  heaps  of  brass  in  ransom  shall  be  told,  175 
And  steel  well  temper’d,  and  persuasive  gold.” 

These  words,  attended  with  a  flood  of  tears, 

The  youths  address’d  to  unrelenting  ears : 

The  vengeful  monarch  gave  this  stern  reply : 

“  If  from  Antimachus  ye  spring,  ye  die  ;  180 

The  daring  wretch  who  once  in  council  stood 
To  shed  Ulysses’  and  my  brother’s  blood, 

For  proffer’d  peace  !  and  sues  his  seed  for  grace  1 
No,  die,  and  pay  the  forfeit  of  your  race.” 

This  said,  Pisander  from  the  car  he  cast,  185 
And  pierced  his  breast ;  supine  he  breathed  his  last. 
His  brother  leap’d  to  earth  ;  but  as  he  lay, 

The  trenchant  falchion  lopp’d  his  hands  away  ; 

His  sever’d  head  was  toss’d  among  the  throng, 

And,  rolling,  drew  a  bloody  trail  along.  190 

Then,  where  the  thickest  fought,  the  victor  flew ; 
The  king’s  example  all  his  Greeks  pursue. 

y2 


258 


HOMER. 


Now  by  the  foot  the  flying1  foot  were  slain, 

Horse  trod  by  horse  lay  foaming  on  the  plain. 

From  the  dry  fields  thick  clouds  of  dust  arise,  195 
Shade  the  black  host,  and  intercept  the  skies. 

The  brass-hoof’d  steeds  tumultuous  plunge  and 
bound, 

And  the  thick  thunder  beats  the  labouring  ground. 
Still  slaughtering  on,  the  king  of  men  proceeds  ; 

The  distant  army  wonders  at  his  deeds.  200 

As  when  the  winds  with  raging  flames  conspire, 
And  o’er  the  forests  roll  the  flood  of  fire, 

In  blazing  heaps  the  grove’s  old  honours  fall, 

And  one  refulgent  ruin  levels  all ; 

Before  Atrides’  rage  so  sinks  the  foe,  205 

Whole  squadrons  vanish,  and  proud  heads  lie  low: 
The  steeds  fly  trembling  from  his  waving  sword ; 
And  many  a  car,  now  lighted  of  its  lord, 

Wide  o’er  the  field  with  guideless  fury  rolls,  209 
Breaking  their  ranks,  and  crushing  out  their  souls; 
While  his  keen  falchion  drinks  the  warriors’  lives  ; 
More  grateful,  now,  to  vultures  than  their  wives  ! 

Perhaps  great  Hector  then  had  found  his  fate, 

But  Jove  and  Destiny  prolong’d  his  date. 

Safe  from  the  darts,  the  care  of  heaven  he  stood,  215 
Amid  alarms,  and  death,  and  dust,  and  blood. 

Now  pass’d  the  tomb  where  ancient  Ilus  lay, 
Through  the  mid  field  the  routed  urge  their  way. 
Where  the  wild  figs  the  adjoining  summit  crown, 
That  path  they  take,  and  speed  to  reach  the  town. 
As  swift  Atrides  with  loud  shouts  pursued,  221 
Hot  with  his  toil,  and  bathed  in  hostile  blood. 

Now  near  the  beech  tree,  and  the  Scsean  gates, 

The  hero  halts,  and  his  associates  waits. 

Meanwhile,  on  every  side,  around  the  plain,  225 
Dispersed,  disorder’d,  fly  the  Trojan  train. 

So  flies  a  herd  of  beeves,  that  hear  dismay’d 
The  lion’s  roaring  through  the  midnight  shade ; 

On  heaps  they  tumble  with  successless  haste : 

The  savage  seizes,  draws,  and  rends  the  last :  230 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI. 


259 


Not  with  less  fury  stern  Atrides  flew, 

Still  press’d  the  rout,  and  still  the  hindmost  slew; 
Hurl’d  from  their  cars  the  bravest  chiefs  are  kill’d, 
And  rage,  and  death,  and  carnage,  load  the  field. 

Now  storms  the  victor  at  the  Trojan  wall;  235 
Surveys  the  towers,  and  meditates  their#  fall. 

But  Jove  descending  shook  the  Idaean  hills, 

And  down  their  summits  pour’d  a  hundred  rills  : 

The  unkindled  lightnings  in  his  hand  he  took, 

And  thus  the  many-colour’d  maid  bespoke  :  240 

“  Iris,  with  haste  thy  golden  wings  display, 

To  godlike  Hector  this  our  word  convey  : 

While  Agamemnon  wastes  the  ranks  around, 

Fights  in  the  front,  and  bathes  with  blood  the  ground, 
Bid  him  give  way  ;  but  issue  forth  commands,  245 
And  trust  the  war  to  less  important  hands  : 

But  when,  or  wounded  by  the  spear  or  dart, 

That  chief  shall  mount  his  chariot,  and  depart, 

Then  Jove  shall  string  his  arm,  and  fire  his  breast, 
Then  to  her  ships  shall  flying  Greece  be  press’d,  250 
Till  to  the  main  the  burning  sun  descend, 

And  sacred  Night  her  awful  shade  extend.” 

He  spoke,  and  Iris  at  his  word  obey’d  ; 

On  wings  of  winds  descends  the  various  maid. 

The  chief  she  found  amid  the  ranks  of  war,  255 
Close  to  the  bulwarks,  on  his  glittering  car. 

The  goddess  then  :  “  Oh  son  of  Priam,  hear  ! 

From  Jove  I  come,  and  his  high  mandate  bear. 
While  Agamemnon  wastes  the  ranks  around, 

Fights  in  the  front,  and  bathes  with  blood  the  ground, 
Abstain  from  fight,  yet  issue  forth  commands,  261 
And  trust  the  war  to  less  important  hands: 

But  when,  or  wounded  by  the  spear  or  dart, 

The  chief  shall  mount  his  chariot,  and  depart, 

Then  Jove  shall  string  thy  arm,  and  fire  thy  breast, 
Then  to  her  ships  shall  flying  Greece  be  press’d,  266 
Till  to  the  main  the  burning  sun  descend, 

And  sacred  Night  her  awful  shade  extend.” 


260 


HOMER. 


She  said,  and  vanish’d  :  Hector  with  a  bound,  2G9 
Springs  from  his  chariot  on  the  trembling  ground, 
In  clanging  arms :  he  grasps  in  either  hand 
A  pointed  lance,  and  speeds  from  band  to  band; 
Revives  their  ardour,  turns  their  steps  from  flight, 
And  wakes  anew  the  dying  flames  of  fight.  274 
They  stand  to  arms :  the  Greeks  their  onset  dare, 
Condense  their  powers,  and  wait  the  coming  war. 
New  force,  new  spirit,  to  each  breast  returns  : 

The  fight,  renew’d,  with  fiercer  fury  burns  : 

The  king  leads  on  ;  all  fix  on  him  their  eye, 

And  learn  from  him  to  conquer,  or  to  die.  280 

Ye  sacred  nine,  celestial  muses!  tell, 

Who  faced  him  first,  and  by  his  prowess  fell  1 
The  great  Iphidamus,  the  bold  and  young, 

From  sage  Anterior  and  Theano  sprung;  284 

Who  from  his  youth  his  grandsire  Cisseus  bred, 
And  nursed  in  Thrace,  where  snowy  flocks  are  fed. 
Scarce  did  the  down  his  rosy  cheeks  invest, 

And  early  honour  warm  his  generous  breast, 

When  the  kind  sire  consign’d  his  daughter’s  charms 
(Theano’s  sister)  to  his  youthful  arms.  290 

But  call’d  by  glory  to  the  wars  of  Troy, 

He  leaves  untasted  the  first  fruits  of  joy ; 

From  his  loved  bride  departs  with  melting  eyes, 
And  swift  to  aid  his  dearer  country  flies. 

With  twelve  black  ships  he  reach’d  Percope’s  strand, 
Thence  took  the  long  laborious  march  by  land.  29G 
Now  fierce  for  fame,  before  the  ranks  he  springs, 
Towering  in  arms,  and  braves  the  king  of  kings. 
Atrides  first  discharged  the  missive  spear  ; 

The  Trojan  stoop’d,  the  javelin  pass’d  in  air.  300 
Then  near  the  corslet,  at  the  monarch’s  heart, 

With  all  his  strength  the  youth  directs  his  dart : 

But  the  broad  belt,  with  plates  of  silver  bound, 

The  point  rebated,  and  repell’d  the  wound. 
Encumber’d  with  the  dart,  Atrides  stands,  305 

Till,  grasped  with  force,  he  wrench’d  it  from  his 
hands. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI. 


261 


At  once  his  weighty  sword  discharged  a  wound 
Full  on  his  neck,  that  fell’d  him  to  the  ground. 
Stretch’d  in  the  dust  the  unhappy  warrior  lies, 

And  sleep  eternal  seals  his  swimming  eyes.  310 
Oh  worthy  better  fate  !  oh  early  slain  ! 

Thy  country’s  friend  :  and  virtuous,  though  in  vain  ! 
No  more  the  youth  shall  join  his  consort’s  side, 

At  once  a  virgin,  and  at  once  a  bride  ! 

No  more  with  presents  her  embraces  meet,  315 
Or  lay  the  spoils  of  conquest  at  her  feet, 

On  whom  his  passion,  lavish  of  his  store, 

Bestow’d  so  much,  and  vainly  promised  more  ! 
Unwept,  uncover’d,  on  the  plain  he  lay, 

While  the  proud  victor  bore  his  arms  away.  320 
Coon,  Antenor’s  eldest  hope,  was  nigh  : 

Tears,  at  the  sight,  came  starting  from  his  eye. 
While  pierced  with  grief  the  much  loved  youth  he 
view’d, 

And  the  pale  features  now  deform’d  with  blood. 
Then  with  his  spear,  unseen,  his  time  he  took,  325 
Aim’d  at  the  king,  and  near  his  elbow  struck. 

The  thrilling  steel  transpierced  the  brawny  part, 
And  through  his  arm  stood  forth  the  barbed  dart. 
Surprised  the  monarch  feels,  yet  void  of  fear 
On  Coon  rushes  with  his  lifted  spear  :  330 

His  brother’s  corpse  the  pious  Trojan  draws, 

And  calls  his  country  to  assert  his  cause, 

Defends  him  breathless  on  the  sanguine  field, 

And  o’er  the  body  spreads  his  ample  shield. 

Atrides,  marking  an  unguarded  part,  335 

Transfix’d  the  warrior  with  a  brazen  dart ; 

Prone  on  his  brother’s  bleeding  breast  he  lay, 

The  monarch’s  falchion  lopp’d  his  head  away  : 

The  social  shades  the  same  dark  journey  go, 

And  join  each  other  in  the  realms  below.  340 

The  vengeful  victor  rages  round  the  fields, 

With  every  weapon  art  or  fury  yields: 

By  the  long  lance,  the  sword,  or  ponderous  stone, 
WThole  ranks  are  broken,  and  whole  troops  o’er- 
thrown. 


262 


HOMER. 


This,  while  yet  warm,distill’d  the  purple  flood  ;  345 
But  when  the  wound  grew  stiff  with  clotted  blood, 
Then  grinding  tortures  his  strong  bosom  rend. 

Less  keen  those  darts  the  fierce  Ilythiae  send — 

(The  powers  that  cause  the  teeming  matrons’  throes, 
Sad  mothers  of  unutterable  woes!)  350 

Stung  with  the  smart,  all  panting  with  the  pain, 

He  mounts  the  car,  and  gives  his  squire  the  rein : 
Then  with  a  voice  which  fury  made  more  strong, 
And  pain  augmented,  thus  exhorts  the  throng : 

“Oh  friends!  oh  Greeks!  assert  your  honours 
won;  355 

Proceed,  and  finish  what  this  arm  begun: 

Lo !  angry  Jove  forbids  your  chief  to  stay, 

And  envies  half  the  glories  of  the  day.” 

He  said:  the  driver  whirls  his  lengthful  thong; 
The  horses  fly ;  the  chariot  smokes  along.  360 
Clouds  from  their  nostrils  the  fierce  coursers  blow, 
And  from  their  sides  the  foam  descends  in  snow ; 
Shot  through  the  battle  in  a  moment’s  space, 

The  wounded  monarch  at  his  tent  they  place. 

No  sooner  Hector  saw  the  king  retired,  365 
But  thus  his  Trojans  and  his  aids  he  fired  : 

“  Hear,  all  ye  Dardan,  all  ye  Lycian  race ! 

Famed  in  close  fight,  and  dreadful  face  to  face. 

Now  call  to  mind  your  ancient  trophies  won, 

Your  great  forefathers’  virtues,  and  your  own.  370 
Behold,  the  general  flies !  deserts  his  powers  ! 

Lo,  Jove  himself  declares  the  conquest  ours ! 

Now  on  yon  ranks  impel  your  foaming  steeds  ; 

And,  sure  of  glory,  dare  immortal  deeds.” 

With  words  like  these  the  fiery  chief  alarms  375 
His  fainting  host,  and  every  bosom  warms. 

As  the  bold  hunter  cheers  his  hounds,  to  tear 
The  brindled  lion,  or  the  tusky  bear ; 

With  voice  and  hand  provokes  their  doubting  heart, 
And  springs  the  foremost  with  his  lifted  dart :  380 

So  godlike  Hector  prompts  his  troops  to  dare; 

Nor  prompts  alone,  but  leads  himself  the  war. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XI. 


263 


On  the  black  body  of  the  foes  he  pours  ; 

As  from  the  cloud’s  deep  bosom,  swell’d  with 
showers, 

A  sudden  storm  the  purple  ocean  sweeps,  385 

Drives  the  wild  waves,  and  tosses  all  the  deeps. 

Say,  muse !  when  Jove  the  Trojan’s  glory  crown’d, 
Beneath  his  arm  what  heroes  bit  the  ground  1 
Assaeus,  Dolops,  and  Autonous  died, 

Opites  next  was  added  to  their  side ;  390 

Then  brave  Hipponous,  famed  in  many  a  fight, 
Opheltius,  Orus,  sunk  to  endless  night ; 
jEsymnus,  Agelaus,  all  chiefs  of  name ; 

The  rest  were  vulgar  deaths,  unknown  to  fame. 

As  when  a  western  whirlwind,  charged  with  storms, 
Dispels  the  gather’d  clouds  that  Notus  forms  ;  396 

The  gust  continued,  violent,  and  strong, 

Rolls  sable  clouds  in  heaps  on  heaps  along ; 

Now  to  the  skies  the  foaming  billows  rears, 

Now  breaks  the  surge,  and  wide  the  bottom  bares : 
Thus  raging  Hector,  with  resistless  hands,  401 
O’erturns,  confounds,  and  scatters  all  their  bands. 
Now  the  last  ruin  the  whole  host  appals  ; 

Now  Greece  had  trembled  in  her  wooden  walls  : 

But  wise  Ulysses  call’d  Tydides  forth,  405 

His  soul  rekindled,  and  awaked  his  worth. 

“  And  stand  we  deedless,  oh  eternal  shame  ! 

Till  Hector’s  arm  involve  the  ships  in  flame  ? 

Haste,  let  us  join,  and  combat  side  by  side.” 

The  warrior  thus,  and  thus  the  friend  replied :  410 

“  No  martial  toil  I  shun,  no  danger  fear; 

Let  Hector  come  ;  I  wait  his  fury  here. 

But  Jove  with  conquest  crowns  the  Trojan  train ; 
And,  Jove  our  foe,  all  human  force  is  vain.” 

He  sigh’d  ;  but  sighing  raised  his  vengeful  steel, 
And  from  his  car  the  proud  Thymbraeus  fell :  416 

Molion,  the  charioteer,  pursued  his  lord, 

His  death  ennobled  by  Ulysses’  sword. 

There  slain,  they  left  them  in  eternal  night, 

Then  plunged  amid  the  thickest  ranks  of  fight.  420 


264 


HOMER. 


So  two  wild  boars  outstrip  the  following  hounds, 
Then  swift  revert,  and  wounds  return  for  wounds. 
Stern  Hector’s  conquests  in  the  middle  plain 
Stood  check’d  a  while,  and  Greece  respired  again. 

The  sons  of  Merops  shone  amid  the  war ;  425 

Towering  they  rode  in  one  refulgent  car : 

In  deep  prophetic  arts  their  father  skill’d, 

Had  warn’d  his  children  from  the  Trojan  field : 

Fate  urged  them  on,  the  father  warn’d  in  vain ; 

They  rush’d  to  fight,  and  perish’d  on  the  plain  !  430 

Their  breasts  no  more  the  vital  spirit  warms  : 

The  stern  Tydides  strips  their  shining  arms. 
Hypirochus  by  great  Ulysses  dies, 

And  rich  Hippodamus  becomes  his  prize. 

Great  Jove  from  Ide  with  slaughter  fills  his  sight, 
And  level  hangs  the  doubtful  scale  of  fight.  436 
By  Tydeus’  lance  Agastrophus  was  slain, 

The  far-famed  hero  of  Paeonian  strain ; 

Wing’d  with  his  fears,  on  foot  he  strove  to  fly, 

His  steeds  too  distant,  and  the  foe  too  nigh ;  440 

Through  broken  orders,  swifter  than  the  wind, 

He  fled,  but  flying,  left  his  life  behind. 

This  Hector  sees,  as  his  experienced  eyes 
Traverse  the  files,  and  to  the  rescue  flies ; 

Shouts,  as  he  pass’d,  the  crystal  regions  rend,  445 
And  moving  armies  on  his  march  attend. 

Great  Diomed  himself  was  seized  with  fear, 

And  thus  bespoke  his  brother  of  the  war  : 

“  Mark  how  this  way  yon  bending  squadrons  yield ! 
The  storm  rolls  on,  and  Hector  rules  the  field  :  450 

Here  stand  his  utmost  force.”  The  warrior  said  ; 
Swift  at  the  word  his  ponderous  javelin  fled : 

Nor  miss’d  its  aim,  but  where  the  plumage  danced, 
Razed  the  smooth  cone,  and  thence  obliquely  glanced. 
Safe  in  his  helm,  (the  gift  of  Phoebus’  hands,)  455 
Without  a  wound,  the  Trojan  hero  stands : 

But  yet  so  stunn’d,  that,  staggering  on  the  plain, 

His  arm  and  knee  his  sinking  bulk  sustain ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI. 


265 


O’er  his  dim  sight  the  misty  vapours  rise,  459 

And  a  short  darkness  shades  his  swimming  eyes. 
Tydides  follow’d  to  regain  his  lance  ; 

While  Hector  rose,  recover’d  from  the  trance  ; 
Remounts  his  car,  and  herds  amid  the  crowd ; 

The  Greek  pursues  him,  and  exults  aloud :  464 

“  Once  more  thank  Phcebus  for  thy  forfeit  breath, 
Or  thank  that  swiftness  which  outstrips  the  death. 
Well  by  Apollo  are  thy  prayers  repaid, 

And  oft  that  partial  power  has  lent  his  aid. 

Thou  shalt  not  long  the  death  deserved  withstand, 
If  any  god  assist  Tydides’  hand.  470 

Fly  then,  inglorious  !  but  thy  flight  this  day, 

Whole  hecatombs  of  Trojan  ghosts  shall  pay.” 

Him,  while  he  triumph’d,  Paris  eyed  from  far — 
(The  spouse  of  Helen,  the  fair  cause  of  war :) 
Around  the  fields  his  feather’d  shafts  he  sent,  475 
From  ancient  Ilus’  ruin’d  monument ; 

Behind  the  column  placed,  he  bent  his  bow, 

And  wing’d  an  arrow  at  the  unwary  foe ; 

Just  as  he  stoop’d,  Agastrophus’s  crest 
To  seize,  and  drew  the  corslet  from  his  breast,  480 
The  bowstring  twang’d  :  nor  flew  the  shaft  in  vain, 
But  pierced  his  foot,  and  nail’d  it  to  the  plain. 

The  laughing  Trojan,  with  a  joyful  spring, 

Leaps  from  his  ambush,  and  insults  the  king. 

“  He  bleeds !”  he  cries ;  “  some  god  has  sped  my 
dart ;  485 

Would  the  same  god  had  fix’d  it  in  his  heart ! 

So  Troy,  relieved  from  that  wide-wasting  hand, 
Should  breathe  from  slaughter,  and  in  combat 
stand ; 

Whose  sons  now  tremble  at  his  darted  spear, 

As  scatter’d  lambs  the  rushing  lion  fear.”  490 

He  dauntless  thus :  “  Thou  conqueror  of  the  fair, 
Thou  woman  warrior  with  the  curling  hair ; 

Vain  archer !  trusting  to  the  distant  dart, 

Unskill'd  in  arms  to  act  a  manly  part ! 
rrr-M — r. — z. 


206 


HOMER. 


Thou  hast  but  done  what  boys  or  women  can;  495 
Such  hands  may  wound,  but  not  incense  a  man. 

Nor  boast  the  scratch  thy  feeble  arrow  gave  ; 

A  coward’s  weapon  never  hurts  the  brave. 

Not  so  this  dart,  which  thou  mayst  one  day  feel ; 
Fate  wings  its  flight,  and  death  is  on  the  steel.  500 
Where  this  but  lights,  some  noble  life  expires : 

Its  touch  makes  orphans,  bathes  the  cheeks  of  sires, 
Steeps  earth  in  purple,  gluts  the  birds  of  air, 

And  leaves  such  objects  as  distract  the  fair.” 

Ulysses  hastens  with  a  trembling  heart,  505 

Before  him  steps,  and,  bending,  draws  the  dart: 
Forth  flows  the  blood ;  an  eager  pang  succeeds  : 
Tydides  mounts,  and  to  the  navy  speeds. 

Now  on  the  field  Ulysses  stands  alone, 

The  Greeks  all  fled,  the  Trojans  pouring  on :  510 

But  stands  collected  in  himself,  and  whole, 

And  questions  thus  his  own  unconquer’d  soul. 

“  What  further  subterfuge,  what  hopes  remain  1 
What  shame,  inglorious,  if  1  quit  the  plain  ! 

What  danger,  singly  if  I  stand  the  ground,  515 
My  friends  all  scatter’d,  all  the  foes  around ! 

Yet  wherefore  doubtful!  let  this  truth  suffice : 

The  brave  meets  danger,  and  the  coward  flies : 

To  die  or  conquer,  proves  a  hero’s  heart ; 

And  knowing  this,  I  know  a  soldier’s  part.”  520 
Such  thoughts  revolving  in  his  careful  breast, 
Near,  and  more  near,  the  shady  cohorts  press’d : 
These,  in  the  warrior,  their  own  fate  enclose  ; 

And  round  him  deep  the  steely  circle  grows. 

So  fares  a  boar  whom  all  the  troop  surrounds  525 
Of  shouting  huntsmen  and  of  clamorous  hounds ; 

He  grinds  his  ivory  tusks  ;  he  foams  with  ire  ; 

His  sanguine  eyeballs  glare  with  living  fire : 

By  these,  by  those,  on  every  part  is  plied  ; 

And  the  red  slaughter  spreads  on  every  side.  5?0 
Pierced  through  the  shoulder,  first  Deiopis  fell ; 
Next  Ennomus  and  Thoon  sunk  to  hell ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI. 


267 


Chersidamus,  beneath  the  navel  thrust, 

Falls  prone  to  earth,  and  grasps  the  bloody  dust. 
Charops,  the  son  of  Hippasus,  was  near ;  535 

Ulysses  reach’d  him  with  the  fatal  spear: 

But  to  his  aid  his  brother  Socus  flies, 

Socus,  the  brave,  the  generous,  and  the  wise : 

Near  as  he  drew,  the  warrior  thus  began: 

“  Oh  great  Ulysses,  much-enduring  man !  540 

Not  deeper  skill’d  in  every  martial  sleight, 

Than  worn  to  toils,  and  active  in  the  fight ! 

This  day  two  brothers  shall  thy  conquest  grace, 

And  end  at  once  the  great  Hippasian  race, 

Or  thou  beneath  this  lance  must  press  the  field.”  545 
He  said,  and  forceful  pierced  his  spacious  shield: 
Through  the  strong  brass  the  ringing  javelin  thrown, 
Plough’d  half  his  side,  and  bared  it  to  the  bone. 

By  Pallas’  care,  the  spear,  though  deep  infix’d, 
Stopp’d  short  of  life,  nor  with  his  entrails  mix’d. 

The  wound  not  mortal  wise  Ulysses  knew,  551 
Then  furious  thus  :  (but  first  some  steps  withdrew  :) 
“  Unhappy  man !  whose  death  our  hands  shall 
grace ! 

Fate  calls  thee  hence,  and  finish’d  is  thy  race. 

No  longer  check  my  conquests  on  the  foe  ;  555 

But,  pierced  by  this,  to  endless  darkness  go, 

And  add  one  spectre  to  the  realms  below  !” 

He  spoke ;  while  Socus,  seized  with  sudden  fright, 
Trembling  gave  way,  and  turn’d  his  back  to  flight; 
Between  his  shoulders  pierced  the  following  dart, 
And  held  its  passage  through  the  panting  heart.  561 
Wide  in  his  breast  appear’d  the  grisly  wound  ; 

He  falls;  his  armour  rings  against  the  ground. 

Then  thus  Ulysses,  gazing  on  the  slain  : 

“  Famed  son  of  Hippasus !  there  press  the  plain ; 
There  ends  thy  narrow  span  assign’d  by  fate,  566 
Heaven  owes  Ulysses  yet  a  longer  date. 

Ah,  wretch !  no  father  shall  thy  corpse  compose, 
Thy  dying  eyes  no  tender  mother  close ; 


268 


HOMER. 


But  hungry  birds  shall  tear  those  balls  away,  570 
And  hovering  vultures  scream  around  their  prey. 

Me  Greece  shall  honour,  when  I  meet  my  doom, 
With  solemn  funerals  and  a  lasting  tomb.” 

Then  raging  with  intolerable  smart, 

He  writhes  his  body,  and  extracts  the  dart.  575 
The  dart  a  tide  of  spouting  gore  pursued, 

And  gladden’d  Troy  with  sight  of  hostile  blood. 

Now  troops  on  troops  the  fainting  chief  invade, 
Forced  he  recedes,  and  loudly  calls  for  aid. 

Thrice  to  its  pitch  his  lofty  voice  he  rears ;  580 

The  well-known  voice  thrice  Menelaus  hears: 
Alarm’d,  to  Ajax  Telamon  he  cried, 

Who  shares  his  labours,  and  defends  his  side  : 

“  Oh  friend  !  Ulysses’  shouts  invade  my  ear ; 
Distress’d  he  seems,  and  no  assistance  near :  585 

Strong  as  he  is,  yet,  one  opposed  to  all, 

Oppress’d  by  multitudes,  the  best  may  fall. 

Greece,  robb’d  of  him,  must  bid  her  host  despair, 
And  feel  a  loss  not  ages  can  repair.” 

Then,  where  the  cry  directs,  his  course  he  bends ; 
Great  Ajax,  like  the  god  of  war,  attends.  591 

The  prudent  chief  in  sore  distress  they  found, 

With  bands  of  furious  Trojans  compass’d  round. 

As  when  some  huntsman,  with  a  flying  spear, 

From  the  blind  thicket  wounds  a  stately  deer,  595 
Down  his  cleft  side  while  fresh  the  blood  distils, 

He  bounds  aloft,  and  scuds  from  hills  to  hills ; 

Till  life’s  warm  vapour  issuing  through  the  wound. 
Wild  mountain  wolves  the  fainting  beast  surround ; 
Just  as  their  jaws  his  prostrate  limbs  invade,  600 
The  lion  rushes  through  the  woodland  shade, 

The  wolves,  though  hungry,  scour  dispersed  away ; 
The  lordly  savage  vindicates  his  prey. 

Ulysses  thus,  unconquer’d  by  his  pains, 

A  single  warrior,  half  a  host  sustains :  605 

But  soon  as  Ajax  heaves  his  towerlike  shield, 

The  scatter’d  crowds  fly  frighted  o’er  the  field; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI. 


2G9 


Atrides’  arm  the  sinking  hero  stays, 

And,  saved  from  numbers,  to  his  car  conveys. 

Victorious  Ajax  piles  the  routed  crew;  010 

And  first  Doryclus,  Priam’s  son,  he  slew ; 

On  strong  Pandocus  next  inflicts  a  wound, 

And  lays  Lysander  bleeding  on  the  ground. 

As  when  a  torrent,  swell’d  with  wintry  rains, 

Pours  from  the  mountains  o’er  the  deluged  plains, 
And  pines  and  oaks,  from  their  foundations  torn,  616 
A  country’s  ruins !  to  the  seas  are  borne : 

Fierce  Ajax  thus  o’erwhelms  the  yielding  throng; 
Men,  steeds,  and  chariots,  roll  in  heaps  along. 

But  Hector,  from  this  scene  of  slaughter  far,  620 
Raged  on  the  left,  and  ruled  the  tide  of  war: 

Loud  groans  proclaim  his  progress  through  the 
plain, 

And  deep  Scamander  swells  with  heaps  of  slain. 
There  Nestor  and  Idomeneus  oppose 
The  warrior’s  fury,  there  the  battle  glows ;  625 

There  fierce  on  foot,  or  from  the  chariot’s  height, 
His  sword  deforms  the  beauteous  ranks  of  fight. 

The  spouse  of  Helen  dealing  darts  around, 

Had  pierced  Machaon  with  a  distant  wound  ; 

In  his  right  shoulder  the  broad  shaft  appear’d,  630 
And  trembling  Greece  for  her  physician  fear’d. 

To  Nestor  then  Idomeneus  begun  : 

“  Glory  of  Greece,  old  Neleus’  valiant  son ! 

Ascend  thy  chariot,  haste  with  speed  away, 

And  great  "Machaon  to  the  ships  convey.  635 

A  wise  physician,  skill’d  our  wounds  to  heal, 

Is  more  than  armies  to  the  public  weal.” 

Old  Nestor  mounts  the  seat :  beside  him  rode 
The  wounded  offspring  of  the  healing  god. 

He  lends  the  lash  ;  the  steeds  with  sounding 
feet  640 

Shake  the  dry  field,  and  thunder  towards  the  fleet. 

But  now  Cebriones,  from  Hector’s  car, 

Survey’d  the  various  fortune  of  the  war. 

z  2 


270 


HOMER. 


“  While  here,”  he  cried,  “  the  flying1  Greeks  are 
slain, 

Trojans  on  Trojans  yonder  load -the  plain.  645 

Before  great  Ajax  see  the  mingled  throng 
Of  men  and  chariots  driven  in  heaps  along ! 

I  know  him  well,  distinguish’d  o’er  the  field 
By  the  broad  glittering  of  the  sevenfold  shield. 
Thither,  oh  Hector,  thither  urge  thy  steeds,  650 
There  danger  calls,  and  there  the  combat  bleeds  ; 
There  horse  and  foot  in  mingled  deaths  unite, 

And  groans  of  slaughter  mix  with  shouts  of  fight.” 

Thus  having  spoke,  the  driver’s  lash  resounds; 
Swift  through  the  ranks  the  rapid  chariot  bounds ; 
Stung  by  the  stroke,  the  coursers  scour  the 
fields ;  '  656 

O’er  heaps  of  carcasses,  and  hills  of  shields. 

The  horses’  hoofs  are  bathed  in  heroes’  gore, 

And,  dashing,  purple  all  the  car  before  ; 

The  groaning  axle  sable  drops  distils,  660 

And  mangled  carnage  clogs  the  rapid  wheels. 

Here  Hector,  plunging  through  the  thickest  fight, 
Broke  the  dark  phalanx,  and  let  in  the  light. 

(By  the  long  lance,  the  sword,  or  pond’rous  stone, 
The  ranks  lie  scatter’d,  and  the  troops  o’erthrown.) 
Ajax  he  shuns,  through  all  the  dire  debate,  666 
And  fears  that  arm,  whose  force  he  felt  so  late. 

But  partial  Jove,  espousing  Hector’s  part, 

Shot  heaven-bred  horror  through  the  Grecian’s 
heart ; 

Confused,  unnerved  in  Hector’s  presence  grown,  670 
Amazed  he  stood,  with  terrors  not  his  own. 

O’er  his  broad  back  his  moony  shield  he  threw, 

And,  glaring  round,  with  tardy  steps  withdrew. 

Thus  the  grim  lion  his  retreat  maintains, 

Beset  with  watchful  dogs  and  shouting  swains  ;  675 
Repulsed  by  numbers  from  the  nightly  stalls, 
Though  rage  impels  him,  and  though  hunger  calls, 
Long  stands  the  showering  darts,  and  missile  fires ; 
Then  sourly  slow  the  indignant  beast  retires : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI.  271 

So  turn’d  stern  Ajax,  by  whole  hosts  repell’d,  680 
While  his  swoln  heart  at  every  step  rebell’d. 

As  the  slow  beast  with  heavy  strength  endued 
In  some  wide  field  by  troops  of  boys  pursued, 
Though  round  his  sides  a  wooden  tempest  rain, 
Crops  the  tall  harvest,  and  lays  waste  the  plain ;  685 
Thick  on  his  hide  the  hollow  blows  resound, 

The  patient  animal  maintains  his  ground, 

Scarce  from  the  field  with  all  their  efforts  chased, 
And  stirs  but  slowly  when  he  stirs  at  last. 

On  Ajax  thus  a  weight  of  Trojans  hung,  690 

The  strokes  redoubled  on  his  buckler  rung; 
Confiding  now  in  bulky  strength  he  stands, 

Now  turns,  and  backward  bears  the  yielding  bands  ; 
Now  stiff  recedes,  yet  hardly  seems  to  fly, 

And  treats  his  followers  with  retorted  eye.  695 
Fix’d  as  the  bar  between  two  warring  powers, 

While  hissing  darts  descend  in  iron  showers ; 

In  his  broad  buckler  many  a  weapon  stood, 

Its  surface  bristled  with  a  quivering  wood  ; 

And  many  a  javelin,  guiltless  on  the  plain,  700 

Marks  the  dry  dust,  and  thirsts  for  blood  in  vain. 
But  bold  Eurypylus  his  aid  imparts, 

And  dauntless  springs  beneath  a  cloud  of  darts; 
Whose  eager  javelin  launch’d  against  the  foe, 

Great  Apisaon  felt  the  fatal  blow  ;  705 

From  his  torn  liver  the  red  current  flow’d, 

And  his  slack  knees  desert  their  dying  load. 

The  victor  rushing  to  despoil  the  dead, 

From  Paris’  bow  a  vengeful  arrow  fled  : 

Fix’d  in  his  nervous  thigh  the  weapon  stood,  710 
Fix’d  was  the  point,  but  broken  was  the  wood. 

Back  to  the  lines  the  wounded  Greek  retired, 

Yet  thus,  retreating,  his  associates  fired  : 

“What  god,  oh  Grecians!  has  your  hearts  dis¬ 
may’d  ? 

Oh,  turn  to  arms ;  ’tis  Ajax  claims  your  aid.  715 
This  hour  he  stands  the  mark  of  hostile  rage, 

And  this  the  last  brave  battle  he  shall  wage ; 


272 


HOMER. 


Haste,  join  your  forces ;  from  the  gloomy  grave 
The  warrior  rescue,  and  your  country  save.”  719 
Thus  urged  the  chief ;  a  generous  troop  appears, 
Who  spread  their  bucklers,  and  advance  their  spears, 
To  guard  their  wounded  friend :  while  thus  they 
stand 

With  pious  care,  great  Ajax  joins  the  band  : 

Each  takes  new  courage  at  the  hero’s  sight; 

The  hero  rallies  and  renews  the  fight.  725 

Thus  raged  both  armies  like  conflicting  fires, 
While  Nestor’s  chariot  far  from  fight  retires : 

His  coursers  steep’d  in  sweat,  and  stain’d  with  gore, 
The  Greek’s  preserver,  great  Machaon,  bore. 

That  hour,  Achilles  from  the  topmost  height  730 
Of  his  proud  fleet  o’erlook’d  the  fields  of  fight; 

His  feasted  eyes  behold  around  the  plain 
The  Grecian  rout,  the  slaying,  and  the  slain. 

His  friend  Machaon  singled  from  the  rest, 

A  transient  pity  touch’d  his  vengeful  breast.  735 
Straight  to  Mencetius’  much-loved  son  he  sent; 
Graceful  as  Mars,  Patroclus  quits  his  tent : 

In  evil  hour !  Then  fate  decreed  his  doom, 

And  fix'd  the  date  of  all  his  woes  to  come. 

“Why  calls  my  friend?  Thy  loved  injunctions 
lay ;  740 

Whate’er  thy  will,  Patroclus  shall  obey.” 

“  Oh  first  of  friends !”  Pelides  thus  replied, 

“  Still  at  my  heart,  and  ever  at  my  side ! 

The  time  is  come,  when  yon  despairing  host 
Shall  learn  the  value  of  the  man  they  lost :  745 

Now  at  my  knees  the  Greeks  shall  pour  their  moan, 
And  proud  Atrides  tremble  on  his  throne. 

Go  now  to  Nestor,  and  from  him  be  taught 
What  wounded  warrior  late  his  chariot  brought : 
For,  seen  at  distance,  and  but  seen  behind,  750 
His  form  recall’d  Machaon  to  my  mind ; 

Nor  could  I,  through  yon  cloud,  discern  his  face, 
The  coursers  pass’d  me  with  so  swift  a  pace.” 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XI. 


273 


The  hero  said.  His  friend  obey’d  with  haste. 
Through  intermingled  ships  and  tents  he  pass’d ;  755 
The  chiefs  descending  from  their  car  he  found ; 

The  panting  steeds  Eurymedon  unbound. 

The  warriors  standing  on  the  breezy  shore, 

To  dry  their  sweat  and  wash  away  the  gore, 

Here  paused  a  moment,  while  the  gentle  gale  760 
Convey’d  that  freshness  the  cool  seas  exhale ; 

Then  to  consult  on  further  methods  went, 

And  took  their  seats  beneath  the  shady  tent. 

The  draught  prescribed,  fair  Hecamede  prepares, 
Arsinous’  daughter,  graced  with  golden  hairs  :  765 

(Whom  to  his  aged  arms,  a  royal  slave, 

Greece,  as  the  prize  of  Nestor’s  wisdom,  gave.) 

A  table  first  with  azure  feet  she  placed ; 

Whose  ample  orb  a  brazen  charger  graced : 

Honey  new  press’d,  the  sacred  flower  of  wheat,  770 
And  wholesome  garlic  crown’d  the  savoury  treat. 
Next  her  white  hand  a  spacious  goblet  brings, 

A  goblet  sacred  to  the  Pylian  kings 
From  eldest  times :  the  massive  sculptured  vase, 
Glittering  with  golden  studs,  four  handles  grace ;  775 
And  curling  vines  around  each  handle  roll’d 
Support  two  turtle  doves  emboss’d  in  gold. 

A  massy  weight,  yet  heaved  with  ease  by  him, 
When  the  brisk  nectar  overlook’d  the  brim. 
Temper’d  in  this,  the  nymph  of  form  divine  780 
Pours  a  large  portion  of  the  Pramnian  win^; 

With  goat’s-milk  cheese  a  flavorous  taste  bestows, 
And  last  with  flour  the  smiling  surface  strews. 

This  for  the  wounded  prince  the  dame  prepares ; 
The  cordial  beverage  reverend  Nestor  shares :  785 

Salubrious  draughts  the  warrior’s  thirst  allay, 

And  pleasing  conference  beguiles  the  day. 

Meantime,  Patroclus,  by  Achilles  sent, 

Unheard  approach’d,  and  stood  before  the  tent. 

Old  Nestor  rising  then,  the  hero  led  790 

To  his  high  seat ;  the  chief  refused,  and  said : 


274 


HOMER. 


“  ’Tis  now  no  season  for  these  kind  delays; 

The  great  Achilles  with  impatience  stays. 

To  great  Achilles  this  respect  I  owe  ; 

Who  asks  what  hero  wounded  by  the  foe,  795 
Was  borne  from  combat  by  thy  foaming  steeds. 
With  grief  I  see  the  great  Machaon  bleeds  : 

This  to  report,  my  hasty  course  I  bend ; 

Thou  know’st  the  fiery  temper  of  my  friend.” 

“  Can  then  the  sons  of  Greece,”  the  sage  rejoin’d, 
“  Excite  compassion  in  Achilles’  mind  ?  801 

Seeks  he  the  sorrows  of  our  host  to  know  1 
This  is  not  half  the  story  of  our  wo. 

Tell  him,  not  great  Machaon  bleeds  alone, 

Our  bravest  heroes  in  the  navy  groan,  805 

Ulysses,  Agamemnon,  Diomed, 

And  stern  Eurypylus,  already  bleed. 

But,  ah  !  what  flattering  hopes  I  entertain ! 

Achilles  heeds  not,  but  derides  our  pain : 

Ev’n  till  the  flames  consume  our  fleet  he  stays,  810 
And  waits  the  rising  of  the  fatal  blaze. 

Chief  after  chief  the  raging  foe  destroys  ; 

Calm  he  looks  on,  and  every  death  enjoys. 

Now  the  slow  course  of  all-impairing  time  814 
Unstrings  my  nerves,  and  ends  my  manly  prime ; 

Oh  !  had  I  still  that  strength  my  youth  possess’d, 
When  this  bold  arm  the  Epeian  powers  oppress’d, 
The  bulls  of  Elis  in  glad  triumph  led, 

And  stretch’d  the  great  Itymonaeus  dead  ! 

Then  from  my  fury  fled  the  trembling  swains,  820 
And  ours  was  all  the  plunder  of  the  plains : 

Fifty  white  flocks,  full  fifty  herds  of  swine, 

As  many  goats,  as  many  lowing  kine ; 

And  thrice  the  number  of  unrivall’d  steeds, 

All  teeming  females,  and  of  generous  breeds.  825 
These,  as  my  first  essay  of  arms,  I  won ; 

Old  Neleus  gloried  in  his  conquering  son. 

Thus  Elis  forced,  her  long  arrears  restored, 

And  shares  were  parted  to  each  Pylian  lord. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XI. 


275 


The  state  of  Pyle  was  sunk  to  last  despair,  830 
When  the  proud  Elians  first  commenced  the  war, 

For  Neleus’  sons  Alcides’  rage  had  slain ; 

Of  twelve  bold  brothers,  I  alone  remain ! 

Oppress’d,  we  arm’d ;  and  now  this  conquest  gain’d, 
My  sire  three  hundred  chosen  sheep  obtain’d.  835 
(That  large  reprisal  he  might  justly  claim, 

For  prize  defrauded,  and  insulted  fame, 

When  Elis’  monarch  at  the  public  course 
Detain’d  his  chariot  and  victorious  horse.) 

The  rest  the  people  shared  ;  myself  survey’d  840 
The  just  partition,  and  due  victims  paid. 

Three  days  were  pass’d,  when  Elis  rose  to  war, 

W'ith  many  a" courser,  and  with  many  a  car; 

The  sons  of  Actor  at  their  army’s  head, 

Young  as  they  were,  the  vengeful  squadrons  led. 
High  on  a  rock  fair  Thryoessa  stands,  846 

Our  utmost  frontier  on  the  Pylian  lands : 

Not  far  the  streams  of  famed  Alphaeus  flow ; 

The  stream  they  pass’d,  and  pitch’d  their  tents  below. 
Pallas,  descending  in  the  shades  of  night,  850 

Alarms  the  Pylians,  and  commands  the  fight. 

Each  burns  for  fame,  and  swells  with  martial  pride ; 
Myself  the  foremost;  but  my  sire  denied  ; 

Fear’d  for  my  youth,  exposed  to  stern  alarms, 

And  stopp’d  my  chariot,  and  detain’d  my  arms.  855 
My  sire  denied  in  vain  ;  on  foot  I  fled 
Amid  our  chariots  :  for  the  goddess  led. 

“  Along  fair  Arene’s  delightful  plain 
Soft  Minyas  rolls  his  waters  to  the  main. 

There,  horse  and  foot,  the  Pylian  troops  unite,  860 
And,  sheathed  in  arms,  expect  the  dawning  light. 
Thence,  ere  the  sun  advanced  his  noonday  flame, 

To  great  Alphaeus’  sacred  source  we  came. 

There  first  to  Jove  our  solemn  rites  were  paid  ; 

An  untamed  heifer  pleased  the  blue-eyed  maid  ;  865 
A  bull  Alphaeus ;  and  a  bull  was  slain 
To  the  blue  monarch  of  the  watery  main. 


276 


HOMER. 


In  arms  we  slept,  beside  the  winding  flood, 

While  round  the  town  the  fierce  Epeians  stood. 

Soon  as  the  sun,  with  all-revealing  ray,  870 

Flamed  in  the  front  of  heaven,  and  gave  the  day, 
Bright  scenes  of  arms,  and  works  of  war  appear ; 
The  nations  meet ;  there  Pylos,  Elis  here. 

The  first  who  fell,  beneath  my  javelin  bled; 

King  Augias’  son,  and  spouse  of  Agamede  :  875 

(She  that  all  simples’  healing  virtues  knew, 

And  every  herb  that  drinks  the  morning  dew  :) 

I  seized  his  car,  the  van  of  battle  led ; 

The  Epeians  saw,  they  trembled,  and  they  fled. 

The  foe  dispersed,  the  bravest  warrior  kill’d,  880 
Fierce  as  a  whirlwind  now  I  swept  the  field : 

Full  fifty  captive  chariots  graced  my  train ; 

Two  chiefs  from  each  fell  breathless  to  the  plain. 
Then  Actor’s  sons  had  died,  but  Neptune  shrouds 
The  youthful  heroes  in  a  veil  of  clouds.  885 

O’er  heapy  shields,  and  o’er  the  prostrate  throng, 
Collecting  spoils,  and  slaughtering  all  along, 
Through  wide  Buprasian  fields  we  forced  the  foes, 
Where  o’er  the  vales  the  Olenian  rocks  arose ; 

Till  Pallas  stopp’d  us  where  Alisium  flows.  890 
Ev’n  there  the  hindmost  of  their  rear  I  slay, 

And  the  same  arm  that  led  concludes  the  day ; 

Then  back  to  Pyle  triumphant  take  my  way. 

There  to  high  Jove  were  public  thanks  assign’d, 

As  first  of  gods ;  to  Nestor,  of  mankind.  895 

Such  then  1  was,  impell’d  by  youthful  blood  ; 

So  proved  my  valour  for  my  country’s  good. 

Achilles  with  inactive  fury  glows, 

And  gives  to  passion  what  to  Greece  he  owes. 

How  shall  he  grieve,  when  to  the  eternal  shade  900 
Her  hosts  shall  sink,  nor  his  the  power  to  aid  1 
Oh  friend !  my  memory  recalls  the  day, 

When,  gathering  aids  along  the  Grecian  sea, 

I,  and  Ulysses,  touch’d  at  Phthia’s  port, 

And  enter’d  Peleus’  hospitable  court.  905 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XI. 


277 


A  bull  to  Jove  he  slew  in  sacrifice, 

And  pour’d  libations  on  the  flaming  thighs. 

Thyself,  Achilles,  and  thy  reverend  sire 
Menoetius,  turn’d  the  fragments  on  the  fire. 

Achilles  sees  us,  to  the  feast  invites  ;  910 

Social  we  sit,  and  share  the  genial  rites. 

We  then  explain’d  the  cause  on  which  we  came, 
Urged  you  to  arms,  and  found  you  fierce  for  fame. 
Your  ancient  fathers  generous  precepts  gave; 
Peleus  said  only  this  :  ‘  My  son  !  be  brave.’  915 
Menoetius  thus  :  ‘  Though  great  Achilles  shine 
In  strength  superior,  and  of  race  divine, 

Yet  cooler  thoughts  thy  elder  years  attend ; 

Let  thy  just  counsels  aid,  and  rule  thy  friend.’ 

Thus  spoke  your  father  at  Thessalia’s  court ;  920 

Words  now  forgot,  though  now  of  vast  import. 

Ah !  try  the  utmost  that  a  friend  can  say  ; 

Such  gentle  force  the  fiercest  minds  obey. 

Some  favouring  god  Achilles’  heart  may  move  ; 
Though  deaf  to  glory,  he  may  yield  to  love.  925 
If  some  dire  oracle  his  breast  alarm, 

If  aught  from  heaven  withhold  his  saving  arm ; 

Some  beam  of  comfort  yet  on  Greece  may  shine, 

If  thou  but  lead  the  Myrmidonian  line ; 

Clad  in  Achilles’  arms,  if  thou  appear,  930 

Proud  Troy  may  tremble,  and  desist  from  war ; 
Press’d  by  fresh  forces,  her  o’erlabour’d  train 
Shall  seek  their  walls,  and  Greece  respire  again.” 

This  touch’d  his  generous  heart,  and  from  the  tent 
Along  the  shore  with  hasty  strides  he  went ;  935 

Soon  as  he  came,  where,  on  the  crowded  strand, 
The  public  mart  and  courts  of  justice  stand, 

Where  the  tall  fleet  of  great  Ulysses  lies, 

And  altars  to  the  guardian  gods  arise  ; 

There  sad  he  met  the  brave  Evaemon’s  son,  940 
Large  painful  drops  from  all  his  members  run; 

An  arrow’s  head  yet  rooted  in  his  wound, 

The  sable  blood  in  circles  mark’d  the  ground. 

IIOM. - T. - A  A 


278 


HOMER. 


As  faintly  reeling  he  confess’d  the  smart ; 

Weak  was  his  pace,  but  dauntless  was  his  heart ;  945 
Divine  compassion  touch’d  Patroclus’  breast, 

Who,  sighing,  thus  his  bleeding  friend  address’d : 

“  Ah,  hapless  leaders  of  the  Grecian  host ! 

Thus  must  ye  perish  on  a  barbarous  coast  1 
Is  this  your  fate,  to  glut  the  dogs  with  gore,  950 
Far  from  your  friends,  and  from  your  native  shore  ? 
Say,  great  Eurypylus  !  shall  Greece  yet  stand  ? 
Resists  she  yet  the  raging  Hector’s  hand  1 
Or  are  her  heroes  doom’d  to  die  with  shame, 

And  this  the  period  of  our  wars  and  fame  1”  955 

Eurypylus  replies  :  “  No  more,  my  friend, 

Greece  is  no  more !  this  day  her  glories  end. 

Ev’n  to  the  ships  victorious  Troy  pursues, 

Her  force  increasing  as  her  toil  renews. 

Those  chiefs  that  used  her  utmost  rage  to  meet  960 
Lie  pierced  with  wounds,  and  bleeding  in  the  fleet. 
But  thou,  Patroclus  !  act  a  friendly  part, 

Lead  to  my  ships,  and  draw  this  deadly  dart ; 

With  lukewarm  water  wash  the  gore  away, 

With  healing  balms  the  raging  smart  allay,  965 
Such  as  sage  Chiron,  sire  of  pharmacy, 

Once  taught  Achilles,  and  Achilles  thee. 

Of  two  famed  surgeons,  Podalirius  stands 
This  hour  surrounded  by  the  Trojan  bands  ; 

And  great  Machaon,  wounded  in  his  tent,  970 

Now  wants  that  succour  which  so  oft  he  lent.” 

To  him  the  chief :  “  What  then  remains  to  do  ? 
The  event  of  things  the  gods  alone  can  view. 
Charged  by  Achilles’  great  command  I  fly, 

And  bear  with  haste  the  Pylian  king’s  reply:  975 

But  thy  distress  this  instant  claims  relief.” 

He  said,  and  in  his  arms  upheld  the  chief. 

The  slaves  their  master’s  slow  approach  survey’d, 
And  hides  of  oxen  on  the  floor  display’d : 

There  stretch’d  at  length  the  wounded  hero  lay,  980 
Patroclus  cut  the  forky  steel  away. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XI 


279 


Then  in  his  hands  a  bitter  root  he  bruised ; 

The  wound  he  wash’d,  the  styptic  juice  infused. 
The  closing  flesh  that  instant  ceased  to  glow, 
The  wound  to  torture,  and  the  blood  to  flow. 


985 


BOOK  XII. 


ARGUMENT. 

The  Battle  at  the  Grecian  Wall. 

The  Greeks  having  retired  into  their  intrenchments,  Hector  at¬ 
tempts  to  force  them ;  but  it  proving  impossible  to  pass  the 
ditch,  Polydamas  advises  to  quit  their  chariots,  and  manage 
the  attack  on  foot — The  Trojans  follow  his  counsel,  and  hav¬ 
ing  divided  their  army  into  five  bodies  of  foot,  begin  the  as¬ 
sault— But  on  the  signal  of  an  eagle  with  a  serpent  in  his 
talons,  which  appeared  on  the  left  hand  of  the  Trojans,  Polyd¬ 
amas  endeavours  to  withdraw  them  again — This  Hector  op¬ 
poses,  and  continues  the  attack ;  in  which,  after  many  actions, 
Sarpedon  makes  the  first  breach  in  the  wall :  Hector,  also, 
casting  a  stone  of  a  vast  size,  forces  open  one  of  the  gates, 
and  enters  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  who  victoriously  pur¬ 
sue  the  Grecians  even  to  their  ships. 


While  thus  the  hero’s  pious  cares  attend 
The  cure  and  safety  of  his  wounded  friend, 

Trojans  and  Greeks  with  clashing  shields  engage, 
And  mutual  deaths  are  dealt  with  mutual  rage. 

Nor  long  the  trench  or  lofty  walls  oppose ;  5 

With  gods  averse  the  ill-fated  works  arose ; 

Their  powers  neglected,  and  no  victim  slain, 

The  walls  were  raised,  the  trenches  sunk  in  vain. 

Without  the  gods,  how  short  a  period  stands 
The  proudest  monument  of  mortal  hands  !  10 

This  stood,  while  Hector  and  Achilles  raged, 

While  sacred  Troy  the  warring  hosts  engaged ; 

But  when  her  sons  were  slain,  her  city  burn’d, 

And  what  survived  of  Greece  to  Greece  return’d ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  Xlf. 


281 

Then  Neptune  and  Apollo  shook  the  shore,  15 
Then  Ida’s  summits  pour’d  their  watery  store ; 
Rhesus  and  Rhodius  then  unite  their  rills, 

Caresus  roaring  down  the  stony  hills, 
iEsepus,  Granicus,  with  mingled  force, 

And  Xanthus  foaming  from  his  fruitful  source ;  20 

Andgulfy  Simois,  rolling  to  the  main 
Helmets,  and  shields,  and  godlike  heroes  slain  : 
These  turn’d  by  Phoebus  from  their  wonted  ways, 
Deluged  the  rampire  nine  continual  days  ; 

The  weight  of  waters  saps  the  yielding  wall,  25 
And  to  the  sea  the  floating  bulwarks  fall. 

Incessant  cataracts  the  Thunderer  pours, 

And  half  the  skies  descend  in  sluicy  showers. 

The  god  of  ocean,  marching  stern  before,  29 

With  his  huge  trident  wounds  the  trembling  shore, 
Vast  stones  and  piles  from  their  foundation  heaves, 
And  whelms  the  smoky  ruin  in  the  waves. 

Now  smooth’d  with  sand,  and  levell’d  by  the  flood, 
No  fragment  tells  where  once  the  wonder  stood ; 

In  their  old  bounds  the  rivers  roll  again,  35 

Shine  'tween  the  hills,  or  wander  o’er  the  plain. 

But  this  the  gods  in  later  times  perform  : 

As  yet  the  bulwark  stood,  and  braved  the  storm  ; 
The  strokes  yet  echo’d  of  contending  powers ; 

War  thunder’d  at  the  gates,  and  blood  distain’d  the 
towers.  40 

Smote  by  the  arm  of  Jove,  with  dire  dismay, 

Close  by  their  hollow  ships  the  Grecians  lay : 
Hector’s  approach  in  every  wind  they  hear, 

And  Hector’s  fury  every  moment  fear. 

He,  like  a  whirlwind,  toss’d  the  scattering  throng, 
Mingled  the  troops,  and  drove  the  field  along.  46 
So  mid  the  dogs  and  hunter’s  daring  bands, 

Fierce  of  his  might,  a  boar  or  lion  stands ; 

Arm’d  foes  around  a  dreadful  circle  form, 

And  hissing  javelins  rain  an  iron  storm :  50 

His  powers  untamed  their  bold  assault  defy, 

And  where  he  turns,  the  rout  disperse,  or  die : 

A  A  2 


I 


282 


HOMER. 


He  foams,  he  glares,  he  bounds  against  them  all, 
And  if  he  falls,  his  courage  makes  him  fall. 

With  equal  rage  encompass’d  Hector  glows ;  55 

Exhorts  his  armies,  and  the  trenches  shows. 

The  panting  steeds  impatient  fury  breathe, 

But  snort  and  tremble  at  the  gulf  beneath; 

Just  on  the  brink  they  neigh,  and  paw  the  ground, 
And  the  turf  trembles,  and  the  skies  resound.  60 
Eager  they  view’d  the  prospect  dark  and  deep, 

Vast  was  the  leap,  and  headlong  hung  the  steep ; 
The  bottom  bare,  (a  formidable  show  !) 

And  bristled  thick  with  sharpen’d  stakes  below. 

The  foot  alone  this  strong  defence  could  force,  65 
And  try  the  pass  impervious  to  the  horse. 

This  saw  Polydamas ;  who,  wisely  brave, 

Restrain’d  great  Hector,  and  this  counsel  gave : 

“  Oh  thou !  bold  leader  of  the  Trojan  bands, 

And  you,  confederate  chiefs  from  foreign  lands !  70 
What  entrance  here  can  cumbrous  chariots  find, 
The  stakes  beneath,  the  Grecian  walls  behind  1 
No  pass  through  those,  without  a  thousand  wounds, 
No  space  for  combat  in  yon  narrow  bounds. 

Proud  of  the  favours  mighty  Jove  has  shown,  75 
On  certain  dangers  we  too  rashly  run : 

If  ’tis  his  will  our  haughty  foes  to  tame, 

Oh,  may  this  instant  end  the  Grecian  name  ! 

Here,  far  from  Argos,  let  their  heroes  fall, 

And  one  great  day  destroy  and  bury  all !  80 

But  should  they  turn,  and  here  oppress  our  train, 
What  hopes,  what  methods,  of  retreat  remain  1 
Wedged  in  the  trench,  by  our  own  troops  confused, 
In  one  promiscuous  carnage  crush’d  and  bruised; 
All  Troy  must  perish  if  their  arms  prevail,  85 

Nor  shall  a  Trojan  live  to  tell  the  tale. 

Hear  then,  ye  warriors  !  and  obey  with  speed  : 

Back  from  the  trenches  let  your  steeds  be  led  ; 

Then  all  alighting,  wedged  in  firm  array, 

Proceed  on  foot,  and  Hector  lead  the  way. 


90 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XII.  283 

So  Greece  shall  stoop  before  our  conquering  power. 
And  this,  if  Jove  consent,  her  fatal  hour.” 

This  counsel  pleased  ;  the  godlike  Hector  sprung 
Swift  from  his  seat ;  his  clanging  armour  rung. 

The  chief’s  example  follow’d  by  his  train,  95 

Each  quits  his  car,  and  issues  on  the  plain. 

By  orders  strict  the  charioteers  enjoin’d, 

Compel  the  coursers  to  the  ranks  behind. 

The  forces  part  in  five  distinguish’d  bands, 

And  all  obey  their  several  chiefs’  commands.  100 
The  best  and  bravest  in  the  first  conspire, 

Pant  for  the  fight,  and  threat  the  fleet  with  fire : 
Great  Hector  glorious  in  the  van  of  these, 
Polydamas,  and  brave  Cebriones. 

Before  the  next  the  graceful  Paris  shines,  105 

And  bold  Alcathous,  and  Agenor  joins. 

The  sons  of  Priam  with  the  third  appear, 

Deiphobus,  and  Helenus  the  seer ; 

In  arms  with  these  the  mighty  Asius  stood, 

Who  drew  from  Hyrtacus  his  noble  blood,  110 
And  whom  Arisba’s  yellow  coursers  bore, 

The  coursers  fed  on  Selle’s  winding  shore. 
Antenor’s  sons  the  fourth  battalion  guide, 

And  great  ADneas,  born  on  fountful  Ide. 

Divine  Sarpedon  the  last  band  obey’d,  115 

W'hom  Glaucus  and  Asteropaeus  aid, 

Next  him,  the  bravest  at  their  army’s  head, 

But  he  more  brave  than  all  the  hosts  he  led. 

Now  with  compacted  shields,  in  close  array, 

The  moving  legions  speed  their  headlong  way :  120 
Already  in  their  hopes  they  fire  the  fleet, 

And  see  the  Grecians  gasping  at  their  feet. 

While  every  Trojan  thus,  and  every  aid, 

The  advice  of  wise  Polydamas  obey’d ; 

Asius  alone,  confiding  in  his  car,  125 

His  vaunted  coursers  urged  to  meet  the  war. 
Unhappy  hero  !  and  advised  in  vain ! 

Those  wheels  returning  ne’er  shall  mark  the  plain ; 


284 


HOMER. 


No  more  those  coursers  with  triumphant  joy 
Restore  their  master  to  the  gates  of  Troy !  130 

Black  death  attends  behind  the  Grecian  wall, 

And  great  ldomeneus  shall  boast  thy  fall.. 

Fierce  to  the  left  he  drives,  where  from  the  plain 
The  flying  Grecians  strove  their  ships  to  gain ; 

Swift  through  the  wall  their  horse  and  chariots 
pass’d,  135 

The  gates  half  open’d  to  receive  the  last. 

Thither,  exulting  in  his  force,  he  flies : 

His  following  host  with  clamours  rend  the  skies ; 

To  plunge  the  Grecians  headlong  in  the  main, 

Such  their  proud  hopes,  but  all  their  hopes  were 
vain.  140 

To  guard  the  gates,  two  mighty  chiefs  attend, 

Who  from  the  Lapiths’  warlike  race  descend ; 

This  Polypcetes,  great  Pirithous’  heir, 

And  that  Leonteus,  like  the  god  of  war. 

As  two  tall  oaks,  before  the  wall  thej'  rise  ;  145 

Their  roots  in  earth,  their  heads  amid  the  skies : 
Whose  spreading  arms  with  leafy  honours  crown’d, 
Forbid  the  tempest,  and  protect  the  ground ; 

High  on  the  hill  appears  their  stately  form, 

And  their  deep  roots  for  ever  brave  the  storm.  150 
So  graceful  these,  and  so  the  shock  they  stand 
Of  raging  Asius,  and  his  furious  band. 

Orestes,  Acamas,  in  front  appear, 

And  (Enomaus  and  Thoon  close  the  rear. 

In  vain  the  clamours  shake  the  ambient  fields,  155 
In  vain  around  them  beat  their  hollow  shields ; 

The  fearless  brothers  on  the  Grecians  call, 

To  guard  their  navies,  and  defend  the  wall. 

Ev’n  when  they  saw  Troy’s  sable  troops  impend, 
And  Greece  tumultuous  from  her  towers  descend, 
Forth  from  the  portals  rush’d  the  intrepid  pair,  161 
Opposed  their  breasts,  and  stood  themselves  the  war. 
So  two  wild  boars  spring  furious  from  their  den, 
Roused  with  the  cries  of  dogs  arid  voice  of  men ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XII.  285 

On  every  side  the  crackling  trees  they  tear,  165 
And  root  the  shrubs,  and  lay  the  forest  bare  ; 

They  gnash  their  tusks,  with  fire  their  eyeballs  roll, 
Till  some  wide  wound  lets  out  their  mighty  soul. 
Around  their  heads  the  whistling  javelins  sung, 

With  sounding  strokes  their  brazen  targets  rung ;  170 
Fierce  was  the  fight,  while  yet  the  Grecian  powers 
Maintain’d  the  walls,  and  mann’d  the  lofty  towers : 
To  save  their  fleet,  the  last  efforts  they  try, 

And  stones  and  darts  in  mingled  tempests  fly. 

As  when  sharp  Boreas  blows  abroad,  and  brings 
The  dreary  winter  on  his  frozen  wings ;  176 

Beneath  the  low-hung  clouds  the  sheets  of  snow 
Descend,  and  whiten  all  the  fields  below : 

So  fast  the  darts  on  either  army  pour, 

So  down  the  rampires  rolls  the  rocky  shower  ;  180 

Heavy  and  thick,  resound  the  batter’d  shields, 

And  the  deaf  echo  rattles  round  the  fields. 

With  shame  repulsed,  with  grief  and  fury  driven, 
The  frantic  Asius  thus  accuses  Heaven : 

“  In  powers  immortal  who  shall  now  believe  ?  185 

Can  those  too  flatter,  and  can  Jove  deceive  1 
What  man  could  doubt  but  Troy’s  victorious  power 
Should  humble  Greece,  and  this  her  fatal  hour  1 
But  like  when  wasps  from  hollow  crannies  drive, 

To  guard  the  entrance  of  their  common  hive,  190 
Darkening  the  rock,  while  with  unwearied  wings 
They  strike  the  assailants,  and  infix  their  stings ; 

A  race  determined,  that  to  death  contend : 

So  fierce  these  Greeks  their  last  retreats  defend. 
Gods  !  shall  two  warriors  only  guard  their  gates,  195 
Repel  an  army,  and  defraud  the  fates  ?” 

These  empty  accents  mingled  with  the  wind, 

Nor  moved  great  Jove’s  unalterable  mind ; 

To  godlike  Hector  and  his  matchless  might 
Was  owed  the  glory  of  the  destined  fight.  200 

Like  deeds  of  arms  through  all  the  forts  were  tried, 
And  all  the  gates  sustain’d  an  equal  tide ; 


286 


HOMER. 


Through  the  long  walls  the  stony  showers  were  heard. 
The  blaze  of  flames,  the  flash  of  arms  appear'd. 

The  spirit  of  a  god  my  breast  inspire.  205 

To  raise  each  act  to  life,  and  sing  with  fire  ! 

While  Greece  unconquer'd  kept  alive  the  war. 
Secure  of  death,  confiding  in  despair; 

And  all  her  guardian  gods,  in  deep  dismay. 

With  unassisting  arms  deplored  the  day.  210 

Ev'n  yet  the  dauntless  Lapithae  maintain 
The  dreadful  pass,  and  round  them  heap  the  slain. 
First  Damasus.  by  Polypoetes'  steel 
Pierced  through  his  helmet's  brazen  visor,  fell ; 

The  weapon  drank  the  mingled  brains  and  gore  ;  215 
The  warrior  sinks,  tremendous  now  no  more  ! 

Next  Orruenus  and  Pylon  yield  their  breath. 

Nor  less  Leonteus  strews  the  field  with  death : 

First  through  the  belt  Hippomachus  he  gored, 

Then  sudden  waved  his  unresisted  sword ;  220 

Antiphates,  as  through  the  ranks  he  broke, 

The  falchion  struck,  and  fate  pursued  the  stroke : 
Iamenus,  Orestes,  Menon,  bled ; 

And  round  him  rose  a  monument  of  dead. 

Meantime,  the  bravest  of  the  Trojan  crew,  225 
Bold  Hector  and  Polydamas,  pursue ; 

Fierce  with  impatience  on  the  works  to  fall. 

And  wrap  in  rolling  flames  the  fleet  and  wall. 

These  on  the  farther  bank  now  stood  and  gazed, 

By  Heaven  alarm'd,  by  prodigies  amazed :  230 

A  signal  omen  stopp’d  the  passing  host, 

Their  martial  fury  in  their  wonder  lost. 

Jove’s  bird  on  sounding  pinions  beat  the  skies, 

A  bleeding  serpent  of  enormous  size 
His  talons  truss'd ;  alive,  and  curling  round,  235 
He  stung  the  bird,  whose  throat  received  the  wound : 
Mad  with  the  smart,  he  drops  the  fatal  prey, 

In  airy  circles  wings  his  painful  way, 

Floats  on  the  winds,  and  rends  the  heu»ens  with 
cries : 

Amid  the  host  the  fallen  serpent  lies. 


240 


ILIAD- - BOOK  XII. 


287 


They,  pale  with  terror,  mark  its  spires  unroll’d. 

And  Jove’s  portent  with  beating  hearts  behold- 
Then  first  Polydamas  the  silence  broke, 

Long  weigh’d  the  signal,  and  to  Hector  spoke  : 

“  How  oft,  my  brother,  thy  reproach  I  bear,  245 
For  words  well  meant,  and  sentiments  sincere  ! 
True  to  those  counsels  which  1  judge  the  best, 

I  tell  the  faithful  dictates  of  my  breast. 

To  speak  his  thoughts,  is  every  freeman’s  right. 

In  peace  and  war,  in  council  and  in  fight :  250 

And  all  I  move,  deferring  to  thy  sway, 

But  tends  to  raise  that  power  which  l  obey. 

Then  hear  my  words,  nor  may  my  words  be  vain: 
Seek  not,  this  day,  the  Grecian  ships  to  gain ; 

For  sure  to  warn  us  Jove  his  omen  sent,  255 

And  thus  my  mind  explains  its  clear  event. 

The  victor  eagle,  whose  sinister  flight 
Retards  our  host,  and  fills  our  hearts  with  fright. 
Dismiss’d  his  conquest  in  the  middle  skies. 

Allow'd  to  seize,  but  not  possess  the  prize  :  260 

Thus  though  we  gird  with  fires  the  Grecian  fleet. 
Though  these  proud  bulwarks  tumble  at  our  feet. 
Toils  unforeseen,  and  fiercer,  are  decreed  : 

More  woes  shall  follow,  and  more  heroes  bleed. 

So  bodes  my  soul,  and  bids  me  thus  advise :  265 

For  thus  a  skilful  seer  would  read  the  skies.*’ 

To  him  then  Hector  with  disdain  return’d : 

(Fierce  as  he  spoke,  his  eyes  with  fury  burn'd  :') 

**  Are  these  the  faithful  counsels  of  thy  tongue  ? 

Thy  will  is  partial,  hot  thy  reason  wrong:  270 

Or,  if  the  purpose  of  thy  heart  thou  vent. 

Sure  Heaven  resumes  the  little  sense  it  lent. 

What  coward  counsels  would  thy  madness  move, 
Against  the  word,  the  will  reveal'd  of  Jove  ? 

The  leading  sign,  the  irrevocable  nod,  275 

And  happy  thunders  of  the  favouring  god. 

These  shall  I  slight  ?  and  guide  my  wavering  mind 
By  wandering  bird*,  that  flit  with  every  wind  ? 


288 


HOMER. 


Ye  vagrants  of  the  sky !  your  wings  extend, 

Or  where  the  suns  arise,  or  where  descend  ;  280 

To  right,  to  left,  unheeded  take  your  way, 

While  I  the  dictates  of  high  Heaven  obey. 

Without  a  sign  his  sword  the  brave  man  draws, 

And  asks  no  omen  but  his  country’s  cause.  284 
But  why  shouldst  thou  suspect  the  war’s  success  1 
None  fears  it  more,  as  none  promotes  it  less  : 
Though  all  our  chiefs  amid  yon  ships  expire, 

Trust  thy  own  cowardice  to  escape  their  fire. 

Troy  and  her  sons  may  find  a  general  grave, 

But  thou  canst  live,  for  thou  canst  be  a  slave.  290 
Yet  should  the  fears  that  wary  mind  suggests 
Spread  their  cpld  poison  through  our  soldiers’  breasts, 
My  javeliu  can  revenge  so  base  a  part, 

And  free  the  soul  that  quivers  in  thy  heart.” 

Furious  he  spoke,  and,  rushing  to  the  wall,  295 
Calls  on  his  host;  his  host  obey  the  call; 

With  ardour  follow  where  their  leader  flies : 
Redoubling  clamours  thunder  in  the  skies. 

Jove  breathes  a  whirlwind  from  the  hills  of  Ide, 

And  drifts  of  dust  the  clouded  navy  hide  :  300 

He  fills  the  Greeks  with  terror  and  dismay, 

And  gives  great  Hector  the  predestined  day. 

Strong  in  themselves,  but  stronger  in  his  aid, 

Close  to  the  works  their  rigid  siege  they  laid. 

In  vain  the  mounds  and  massy  beams  defend,  305 
While  these  they  undermine,  and  those  they  rend ; 
Upheave  the  piles  that  prop  the  solid  wall ; 

And  heaps  on  heaps  the  smoky  ruins  fall. 

Greece  on  her  rampart  stands  the  fierce  alarms  ; 

The  crowded  bulwarks  blaze  with  waving  arms,  310 
Shield  touching  shield,  a  long  refulgent  row  ; 
Whence  hissing  darts,  incessant,  rain  below. 

The  bold  Ajaces  fly  from  tower  to  tower, 

And  rouse,  with  flame  divine,  the  Grecian  power. 
The  generous  impulse  every  Greek  obeys  ;  315 

Threats  urge  the  fearful ;  and  the  valiant  praise. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XII.  289 

“  Fellows  in  arms !  whose  deeds  are  known  to 
fame, 

And  you  whose  ardour  hopes  an  equal  name! 

Since  not  alike  endued  with  force  or  art, 

Behold  a  day  when  each  may  act  his  part !  320 

A  day  to  fire  the  hrave,  and  warm  the  cold, 

To  gain  new  glories,  or  augment  the  old. 

Urge  those  who  stand :  and  those  who  faint,  ex* 
cite ; 

Drown  Hector’s  vaunts  in  loud  exhorts  of  fight ; 
Conquest,  not  safety,  fill  the  thoughts  of  all;  325 
Seek  not  your  fleet,  but.  sally  from  the  wall ; 

So  Jove  once  more  may  drive  their  routed  train. 
And  Troy  lie  trembling  in  her  walls  again.” 

Their  ardour  kindles  all  the  Grecian  powers; 

And  now  the  stones  descend  in  heavier  showers. 

As  when  high  Jove  his  sharp  artillery  forms,  331 
And  opes  his  cloudy  magazine  of  storms  ; 

In  winter’s  bleak,  uncomfortable  reign, 

A  snowy  inundation  hides  the  plain; 

He  stills  the  winds,  and  bids  the  skies  to  sleep;  335 
Then  pours  the  silent  tempest  thick  and  deep : 

And  first  the  mountain  tops  are  cover’d  o’er, 

Then  the  green  fields,  and  then  the  sandy  shore; 
Bent  with  the  weight  the  nodding  woods  are  seen, 
And  one  bright  waste  hides  all  the  works  of  men: 
The  circling  seas  alone  absorbing  all,  341 

Drink  the  dissolving  fleeces  as  they  fall. 

So  from  each  side  increased  the  stony  rain, 

And  the  white  ruin  rises  o’er  the  plain. 

Thus  godlike  Hector  and  his  troops  contend  345 
To  force  the  ramparts,  and  the  gates  to  rend  ; 

Nor  Troy  could  conquer,  nor  the  Greeks  would 
yield, 

Till  great  Sarpedon  tower’d  amid  the  field : 

For  mighty  Jove  inspired  with  martial  flame 
His  matchless  son,  and  urged  him  on  to  fame.  350 
In  arms  he  shines,  conspicuous  from  afar, 

And  bears  aloft  his  ample  shield  in  air; 
hum. — i. — B  B 


290 


HOMER. 


Within  whose  orb  the  thick  bull  hides  were  roll’d, 
Ponderous  with  brass,  and  bound  with  ductile  gold : 
And  while  two  pointed  javelins  arm  his  hands,  355 
Majestic  moves  along,  and  leads  his  Lycian  bands. 

So.  press'd  with  hunger,  from  the  mountain’s  brow 
Descends  a  lion  on  the  flocks  below ; 

So  stalks  the  lordly  savage  o’er  the  plain, 

In  sullen  majesty,  and  stern  disdain :  360 

In  vain  loud  mastiffs  bay  him  from  afar, 

And  shepherds  gall  him  with  an  iron  war ; 
Regardless,  furious,  he  pursues  his  way  ; 

He  foams,  he  roars,  he  rends  the  panting  prey. 

Resolved  alike,  divine  Sarpedon  glows  365 

With  generous  rage  that  drives  him  on  the  foes. 

He  views  the  towers,  and  meditates  their  fall, 

To  sure  destruction  dooms  the  aspiring  wall; 

Then,  casting  on  his  friend  an  ardent  look, 

Fired  with  the  thirst  of  glory,  thus  he  spoke :  370 

**  Why  boast  we,  Glaucus !  our  extended  reign, 
Where  Xanthus’  streams  enrich  the  Lycian  plain, 
Our  numerous  herds  that  range  the  fruitful  field, 

And  hills  where  vines  their  purple  harvest  yield, 

Our  foaming  bowls  with  purer  nectar  crown’d,  375 
Our  feasts  enhanced  with  music’s  sprightly  sound! 
Why  on  those  shores  are  we  with  joy  survey’d, 
Admired  as  heroes, and  as  gods  obey’d; 

Unless  great  acts  superior  merit  prove, 

And  vindicate  the  bounteous  powers  above !  380 

Tis  ours,  the  dignity  they  give  to  grace ; 

The  first  in  valour,  as  the  first  in  place ; 

That  when  with  wondering  eyes  our  martial  bands 
Behold  our  deeds  transcending  our  commands, 

Such,  they  may  cry,  deserve  the  sovereign  state, 
Whom  those  that  envy  dare  not  imitate !  386 

Could  all  our  care  elude  the  gloomy  grave, 

Which  claims  no  less  the  fearful  than  the  brave, 

For  lust  of  fame  I  should  not  vainly  dare 
In  fighting  fields,  nor  urge  thy  soul  to  war.  390 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XII. 


291 


But  since,  alas!  ignoble  age  must  come, 

Disease,  and  death’s  inexorable  doom  ; 

The  life  which  others  pay,  let  us  bestow, 

And  give  to  fame  what  we  to  nature  owe ; 

Brave  though  we  fall,  and  honour’d  if  we  live,  395 
Or  let  us  glory  gain,  or  glory  give !” 

He  said:  his  words  the  listening  chief  inspire 
With  equal  warmth,  and  rouse  the  warrior’s  fire  ; 
The  troops  pursue  their  leaders  with  delight, 

Rush  to  the  foe,  and  claim  the  promised  fight.  400 
Menestheus  from  on  high  the  storm  beheld 
Threatening  the  fort,  and  blackening  in  the  field: 
Around  the  wails  he  gazed,  to  view  from  far 
What  aid  appear’d  to  avert  the  approaching  war, 
And  saw  where  Teucer  with  the  Ajaces  stood,  405 
Of  fight  insatiate,  prodigal  of  blood. 

In  vain  he  calls;  the  din  of  helms  and  shields 
Rings  to  the  skies,  and  echoes  through  the  fields : 
The  brazen  hinges  fly,  the  walls  resound, 

Heaven  trembles,  roar  the  mountains,  thunders  all 
the  ground.  410 

Then  thus  to  Thoos :  “  Hence  with  speed,”  he  said, 
“  And  urge  the  bold  Ajaces  to  our  aid  : 

Their  strength,  united,  best  may  help  to  bear 
The  bloody  labours  of  the  doubtful  war: 

Hither  the  Lycian  princes  bend  their  course,  415 

The  best  and  bravest  of  the  hostile  force. 

But  if  too  fiercely  there  the  foes  contend, 

Let  Telamon  at  least  our  towers  defend, 

And  Teucer  haste  with  his  unerring  bow, 

To  share  the  danger,  and  repel  the  foe.”  420 

Swift  at  the  word,  the  herald  speeds  along 
The  lofty  ramparts,  through  the  martial  throng; 

And  finds  the  heroes  bathed  in  sweat  and  gore, 
Opposed  in  combat  un  the  dusty  shore. 

“  Ye  valiant  leaders  of  our  warlike  bands  !  425 

Your  aid,”  said  Thoos,  “  Peleus’  son  demands. 
Your  strength,  united,  best  may  help  to  bear 
The  bloody  labours  of  the  doubtful  war : 


292 


HOMER. 


Thither  the  Lycian  princes  bend  their  course, 

The  best  and  bravest  of  the  hostile  force.  430< 

But  if  too  fiercely  here  the  foes  contend, 

At  least  let  Telamon  those  towers  defend, 

And  Teucer  haste  with  his  unerring  bow, 

To  share  the  danger,  and  repel  the  foe.” 

Straight  to  the  fort  great  Ajax  turn’d  his  care,  435 
And  thus  bespoke  his  brothers  of  the  war: 

“  Now,  valiant  Lycomede  !  exert  your  might, 

And,  brave  Oileus,  prove  your  force  in  fight : 

To  you  1  trust  the  fortune  of  the  field,  > 

Till  by  this  arm  the  foe  shall  be  repell’d  ;  440 

That  done,  expect  me  to  complete  the  day 
Then,  with  his  sevenfold  shield  he  strode  away. 

With  equal  steps  bold  Teucer  press’d  the  shore, 
Whose  fatal  bow  the  strong  Pandion  bore.  444 
High  on  the  walls  appear’d  the  Lycian  powers, 
Like  some  black  tempest  gathering  round  the  towers ; 
The  Greeks,  oppress’d,  their  utmost  force  unite, 
Prepared  to  labour  in  the  unequal  fight ; 

The  war  renews,  mix’d  shouts  and  groans  arise; 
Tumultuous  clamour  mounts,  and  thickens  in  the 
skies.  450 

Fierce  Ajax  first  the  advancing  host  invades, 

And  sends  the  brave  Epicles  to  the  shades, 
Sarpedon’s  friend  ;  across  the  warrior’s  way, 

Rent  from  the  walls,  a  rocky  fragment  lay ; 

In  modern  ages  not  the  strongest  swain  455 

Could  heave  the  unwieldy  burden  from  the  plain. 

He  poised,  and  swung  it  round  ;  then,  toss’d  on  high, 
It  flew  with  force,  and  labour’d  up  the  sky  ; 

Full  on  the  Lvcian’s  helmet  thundering  down, 

The  ponderous  ruin  crush’d  his  batter’d  crown.  460 
As  skilful  divers  from  some  airy  steep 
Headlong  descend,  and  shoot  into  the  deep, 

So  falls  Epicles  ;  then  in  groans  expires, 

And  murmuring  to  the  shades  the  soul  retires. 

While  to  the  ramparts  daring  Glaucus  drew,  465 
From  Teucer’s  hand  a  winged  arrow  flew : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XII. 


293 


The  bearded  shaft  the  destined  passage  found. 

And  on  his  naked  arm  inflicts  a  wound. 

The  chief,  who  fear’d  some  foe’s  insulting  boast 
Might  stop  the  progress  of  his  warlike  host,  470 
Conceal’d  the  wound,  and,  leaping  from  his  height, 
Retired  reluctant  from  the  unfinish’d  fight. 

Divine  Sarpedon  with  regret  beheld 
Disabled  Glaucus  slowly  quit  the  field; 

His  beating  breast  with  generous  ardour  glows,  475 
He  springs  to  flight,  and  flies  upon  the  foes. 

Alcmaon  first  was  doom’d  his  force  to  feel; 

Deep  in  his  breast  he  plunged  the  pointed  steel; 
Then,  from  the  yawning  wound  with  fury  tore  479 
The  spear,  pursued  by  gushing  streams  of  gore  ; 
Down  sinks  the  warrior  with  a  thundering  sound, 
His  brazen  armour  rings  against  the  ground. 

Swift  to  the  battlement  the  victor  flies, 

Tugs  with  full  force,  and  every  nerve  applies;  484 
It  shakes  ;  the  ponderous  stones  disjointed  yield ; 
The  rolling  ruins  smoke  along  the  field. 

A  mighty  breach  appears,  the  walls  lie  bare; 

And,  like  a  deluge,  rushes  in  the  war. 

At  once  bold  Teucer  draws  the  twanging  bow, 

And  Ajax  sends  his  javelin  at  the  foe :  490 

Fix’d  in  his  belt  the  feather’d  weapon  stood, 

And  through  his  buckler  drove  the  trembling  wood ; 
But  Jove  was  present  in  the  dire  debate, 

To  shield  hi^offspring,  and  avert  his  fate. 

The  prince  gave  back,  not  meditating  flight,  495 
But  urging  vengeance,  and  severer  fight ; 

Then,  raised  with  hope,  and  fired  with  glory’s 
charms, 

His  fainting  squadrons  to  new  fury  warms. 

“  Oh  where,  ye  Lycians  !  is  the  strength  you  boast? 
Your  former  fame  and  ancient  virtue  lost !  500 

The  breach  lies  open,  but  your  chief  in  vain 
Attempts  alone  the  guarded  pass  to  gain  : 

Unite,  and  soon  that  hostile  fleet  shall  fall ; 

The  force  of  powerful  union  conquers  all.” 

B  B  2 


294 


HOMER. 


t 


This  just  rebuke  inflamed  the  Lycian  crew,  505 
They  join,  they  thicken,  and  the  assault  renew; 
Unmoved  the  imbodied  Greeks  their  fury  dare, 

And  fix’d  support  the  weight  of  all  the  war; 

Nor  could  the  Greeks  repel  the  Lycian  powers. 

Nor  the  bold  Lycians  force  the  Grecian  towers.  510 
As,  on  the  confines  of  adjoining  grounds, 

Two  stubborn  swains  with  blows  dispute  their 
bounds ; 

They  tug,  they  sweat ;  but  neither  gain  nor  yield, 
One  foot,  one' inch,  of  the  contended  field  : 

Thus  obstinate  to  death  they  fight,  they  fall ;  515 

Nor  these  can  keep,  nor  those  can  win  the  wall. 
Their  manly  breasts  are  pierced  with  many  a  wound, 
Loud  strokes  are  heard,  and  rattling  arms  resound; 
The  copious  slaughter  covers  all  the  shore, 

And  the  high  ramparts  drop  with  human  gore.  520 
As  when  two  scales  are  charged  with  doubtful 
loads. 

From  side  to  side  the  trembling  balance  noas, 
(While  some  laborious  matron,  just  and  poor, 

With  nice  exactness  weighs  her  woolly  store,) 

Till,  poised  aloft,  the  resting  beam  suspends  525 
Each  equal  weight ;  nor  this,  nor  that  descends  : 

So  stood  the  war,  till  Hector’s  matchless  might 
With  fates  prevailing,  turn’d  the  scale  of  fight. 

Fierce  as  a  whirlwind  up  the  walls  he  flies, 

And  fires  his  hosts  with  loud  repeated^ries.  530 
Advance,  ye  Trojans  1  lend  your  valiant  hands, 
Haste  to  the  fleet,  and  toss  the  blazing  brands! 

They  hear,  they  run  ;  and  gathering  at  his  call, 
Raise  scaling  engines,  and  ascend  the  wall: 

Around  the  works  a  wood  of  glittering  spears  535 
Shoots  up,  and  all  the  rising  host  appears. 

A  ponderous  stone  bold  Hector  heaved  to  throw, 
Pointed  above,  and  rough  and  gross  below  : 

Not  two  strong  men  the  enormous  weight  could  raise. 
Such  men  as  live  in  these  degenerate  days.  540 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XII. 


295 


Yet  this,  as  easy  as  a  swain  could  bear 
The  snowy  fleece, he  toss’d,  and  shook  in  air: 

For  Jove  upheld,  and  lighten’d  of  its  load 
The  unwieldy  rock,  the  labour  of  a  god. 

Thus  arm’d  before  the  folded  gates  he  came,  545 
Of  massy  substance,  and  stupendous  frame  ; 

With  iron  bars  and  brazen  hinges  strong, 

On  lofty  beams  of  solid  timber  hung : 

Then,  thundering  through  the  planks  with  forceful 
sway, 

Drives  the  sharp  rock ;  the  solid  beams  give  way, 
The  folds  are  shatter’d  ;  from  the  crackling  door  551 
Leap  the  resounding  bars,  the  flying  hinges  roar. 
Now  rushing  in,  the  furious  chief  appears, 

Gloomy  as  night!  and  shakes  two  shining  spears: 

A  dreadful  gleam  from  his  bright  armour  came,  555 
And  from  Ins  eyeballs  flash’d  the  living  flame. 

He  moves  a  god,  resistless  in  his  course, 

And  seems  a  match  for  more  than  mortal  force. 
Then  pouring  after,  through  the  gaping  space, 

A  tide  of  Trojans  flows,  and  fills  the  place  ;  560 

The  Greeks  behold,  they  tremble, and  they  fly; 

The  shore  is  heap’d  with  death,  and  tumult  rends 
the  sky. 


BOOK  XIII 


ARGUMENT. 

The  Fourth  Battle  continued ,  in  which  Neptune  assists  the  Greeks . 

the  Acts  of  ldomeneus. 

Neptune,  concerned  for  the  loss  of  the  Grecians,  on  seeing  the 
fortification  forced  by  Hector,  who  had  entered  the  gate  near 
the  station  of  the  Ajaxes,  assumes  the  shape  of  Calchas,  and 
inspires  those  heroes  to  oppose  him  :  then,  in  the  form  of  one 
of  the  generals,  encourages  the  othpr  Greeks,  who  had  retired 
to  their  vessels — The  Ajaxes  form  their  troops  in  a  close  pha¬ 
lanx,  and  put  a  stop  to  Hector  and  the  Trojans — Several  deeds 
of  valour  are  performed ;  Meriones,  losing  his  spear  in  the 
encounter,  repairs  to  seek  another  at  the  tent  of  ldomeneus  : 
this  occasions  a  conversation  between  those  two  warriors, 
who  return  together  to  the  battle— ldomeneus  signalizes  his 
courage  above  the  rest;  he  kills  Othryoneus,  Asius,  and  Al- 
cathous :  Deiphobus  and  ^Eneas  march  against  him.  and  at 
length  ldomeneus  retires— Menelaus  wounds  Helenus  and 
Pisander — The  Trojans  are  repulsed  in  the  left  wing;  Hector 
stills  keeps  his  ground  against  the  Ajaxes,  till,  being  galled 
by  the  Locrian  slingersand  archers,  Polydamas  advises  to  call 
a  council  of  war:  Hector  approves  his  advice,  but  goes  first 
to  rally  the  Trojans  ;  upbraids  Paris,  rejoins  Polydamas,  meets 
Ajax  again,  and  renews  the  attack.— [The  eight-and-twentieth 
day  still  continues.  The  scene  is  between  the  Grecian  wall 
and  the  seashore.] 


When  now  the  Thunderer  on  the  seabeat  coast 
Had  fix’d  great  Hector  and  his  conquering  host, 

He  left  them  to  the  fates,  in  bloody  fray 
To  toil  and  struggle  through  the  well-fought  day. 
Then  turn’d  to  Thracia  from  the  field  of  fight  5 
Those  eyes  that  shed  insufferable  light, 

To  where  the  Mysians  prove  their  martial  force, 
And  hardy  Thracians  tame  the  savage  horse ; 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XIII. 


297 


And  where  the  far-famed  Hippemolgian  strays, 
Renown’d  for  justice  and  for  length  of  days ;  10 

Thrice  happy  race  !  that,  innocent  of  blood, 

From  milk,  innoxious,  seek  their  simple  food: 

Jove  sees  delighted;  and  avoids  the  scene 
Of  guilty  Troy,  of  arms,  and  dying  men  : 

No  aid,  he  deems,  to  either  host  is  given,  15 

While  his  high  law  suspends  the  powers  of  heaven. 

Meantime  the  monarch  of  the  watery  main 
Observed  the  Thunderer,  nor  observed  in  vain. 

In  Samothracia,  on  a  mountain’s  brow, 

Whose  waving  woods  o’erhung  the  deeps  below,  20 
He  sat ;  and  round  him  cast  his  azure  eyes, 

Where  Ida’s  misty  tops  confus’dly  rise ; 

Below,  fair  llion’s  glittering  spires  were  seen; 

The  crowded  ships,  and  sable  seas  between. 

There,  from  the  crystal  chambers  of  the  main  25 
Emerged,  he  sat,  and  mourn’d  his  Argives  slain. 

At  Jove  incensed,  with  grief  and  fury  stung, 

Prone  down  the  rocky  steep  he  rush’d  along; 

Fierce  as  he  pass’d,  the  lofty  mountains  nod, 

The  forest  shakes :  earth  trembled  as  he  trod,  30 
And  felt  the  footsteps  of  the  immortal  god. 

From  realm  to  realm  three  ample  strides  he  took, 
And,  at  the  fourth,  the  distant  iEgae  shook. 

Far  in  the  bay  his  shining  palace  stands, 

Eternal  frame!  not  raised  by  mortal  hands;  35 
This  having  reach’d,  his  brass-hoof'd  steeds  he 
reins, 

Fleet  as  the  winds,  and  deck’d  with  golden  manes. 
Refulgent  arms  his  mighty  limbs  infold, 

Immortal  arms  of  adamant  and  gold. 

He  mounts  the  car,  the  golden  scourge  applies,  40 
He  sits  superior,  and  the  chariot  flies : 

His  whirling  wheels  the  glassy  surface  sweep; 

The  enormous  monsters,  rolling  o’er  the  deep, 
Gambol  around  him  on  the  watery  way  ; 

And  heavy  whales  in  awkward  measures  play :  45 

*  ! 


298 


HOMER. 


The  sea  subsiding  spreads  a  level  plain, 

Exults,  and  owns  the  monarch  of  the  main: 

The  parting  waves  before  his  coursers  fly; 

The  wondering  waters  leave  his  axle  dry, 

Deep  in  the  liquid  regions  lies  a  cave  ;  50 

Between  where  Tenedos  the  surges  lave, 

And  rocky  Imbrus  breaks  the  rolling  wave: 

There  the  great  ruler  of  the  azure  round 
Stopp’d  his  swift  chariot,  and  his  steeds  unbound, 
Fed  with  ambrosial  herbage  from  his  hand,  55 

And  link’d  their  fetlocks  with  a  golden  band, 
Infrangible,  immortal:  there  they  stay; 

The  father  of  the  floods  pursues  his  way  ; 

Where,  like  a  tempest  darkening  heaven  around, 

Or  fiery  deluge  that  devours  the  ground,  60 

The  impatient  Trojans,  in  a  gloomy  throng, 
Embattled  roll’d,  as  Hector  rush’d  along: 

To  the  loud  tumult  and  the  barbarous  cry, 

The  heavens  re-echo,  and  the  shores  reply ; 

They  vow  destruction  to  the  Grecian  name,  65 
And  in  their  hopes  the  fleets  already  flame. 

But  Neptune,  rising  from  the  seas  profound, 

The  god  whose  earthquakes  rock  the  solid  ground, 
Now  wears  a  mortal  form;  like  Calchas  seen, 

Such  his  loud  voice,  and  such  his  manly  mien ;  70 

His  shouts  incessant  every  Greek  inspire, 

But  most  the  Ajaces,  adding  fire  to  fire. 

“  ’Tis  yours,  oh  warriors !  all  our  hopes  to  raise : 
Oh,  recollect  your  ancient  worth  and  praise : 

’Tis  yours  to  save  us,  if  you  cease  to  fear ;  75 

Flight,  more  than  shameful,  is  destruction  here. 

On  other  works  though  Troy  with  fury  fall, 

And  pour  her  armies  o’er  our  batter’d  wall ; 

There  Greece  has  strength:  but  this,  this  part  o’er- 
thrown, 

Her  strength  were  vain  ;  I  dread  for  you  alone.  80 
Here  Hector  rages  like  the  force  of  fire, 

Vaunts  of  his  gods,  and  calls  high  Jove  his  sire 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XIII. 


299 


If  yet  some  heavenly  power  your  breast  excite, 
Breathe  in  your  hearts,  and  string  your  arms  to 
fight, 

Greece  yet  may  live,  her  threaten’d  fleet  remain;  85 
And  Hector’s  force,  and  Jove’s  own  aid,  be  vain.” 

Then  with  his  sceptre,  that  the  deep  controls, 

He  touch’d  the  chiefs, and'steel’d  their  manly  souls; 
Strength,  not  their  own,  the  touch  divine  imparts, 
Prompts  their  light  limbs,  and  swells  their  daring 
hearts.  ~  90 

Then  as  a  falcon  from  the  rocky  height, 

Her  quarry  seen,  impetuous  at  the  sight 
Forth  springing  instant,  darts  herself  from  high, 
Shoots  on  the  wing,  and  skims  along  the  sky  : 

Such,  and  so  swift,  the  power  of  ocean  flew  ;  95 

The  wide  horizon  shut  him  from  their  view. 

The  inspiring  god,  Oileus’  active  son 
Perceived  the  first,  and  thus  to  Telamon : 

“  Some  god,  my  friend,  some  god  in  human  form, 
Favouring  descends,  and  wills  to  stand  the  storm. 
Not  Calchas  this,  the  venerable  seer;  101 

Short  as  he  turn’d,  I  saw  the  po.wer  appear : 

I  mark’d  his  parting,  and  the  steps  he  trod ; 

His  own  bright  evidence  reveals  a  god. 

Ev’n  now  some  energ}^  divine  I  share,  105 

And  seem  to  walk  on  wings,  and  tread  in  air !” 

“  With  equal  ardour,”  Telamon  returns, 

“My  soul  is  kindled,  and  my  bosom  burns: 

New  rising  spirits  all  my  force  alarm, 

Lift  each  impatient  limb,  and  brace  my  arm.  110 
This  ready  arm,  unthinking,  shakes  the  dart ; 

The  blood  pours  back,  and  fortifies  my  heart ; 
Singly,  methinks,  yon  towering  chief  I  meet, 

And  stretch  the  dreadful  Hector  at  my  feet.” 

Full  of  the  god  that  urged  their  burning  breast,  115 
The  heroes  thus  their  mutual  warmth  express’d. 
Neptune  meanwhile  the  routed  Greeks  inspired. 
Who,  breathless,  pale,  with  length  of  labours  tired, 


300 


HOMER. 


Pant  in  the  ships  ;  while  Troy  to  conquest  calls, 

And  swarms  victorious  o’er  their  yielding  walls :  120 
Trembling  before  the  impending  storm  they  lie, 
While  tears  of  rage  stand  burning  in  their  eye. 
Greece  sunk  they  thought,  and  this  their  fatal  hour* 
But  breathe  new  courage  as  they  feel  the  power. 
Teucer  and  Leitus  first  his  words  excite  ;  125 

Then  stern  Peneleus  rises  to  the  fight; 

Thoas,  Deipyrus,  in  arms  renown’d, 

And  Merion  next, the  impulsive  fury  found; 

Last  Nestor’s  son  the  same  bold  ardour  takes, 

While  thus  the  god  the  martial  fire  awakes  :  130 

“  Oh  lasting  infamy  !  oh  dire  disgrace, 

To  chiefs  of  vigorous  youth  and  manly  race  ! 

I  trusted  it:  the  gods,  and  you,  to  see 
Brave  Greece  victorious,  and  her  navy  free: 

Ah,  no — the  glorious  combat  you  disclaim,  135 
And  one  black  day  clouds  all  her  former  fame. 
Heavens  !  what  a  prodigy  these  eyes  survey, 
Unseen,  unthought,  till  this  amazing  day  ! 

Fly  we  at  length  from  Troy’s  oft-conquer’d  bands'? 
And  falls  our  fleet  by  such  inglorious  hands?  140 
A  rout  undisciplined,  a  straggling  train, 

Not  born  to  glories  of  the  dusty  plain  ; 

Like  frighted  fawns,  from  hill  to  hill  pursued, 

A  prey  to  every  savage  of  the  wood : 

Shall  these,  so  late  who  trembled  at  your  name,  145 
Invade  your  camps,  involve  your  ships  in  flame? 

A  change  so  shameful,  say,  what  cause  has  wrought  1 
The  soldier’s  baseness,  or  the  general's  fault? 
Fools!  will  ye  perish  for  your  leader’s  vice, 

The  purchase  infamy,  and  life  the  price  ?  150 

’Tis  not  your  cause,  Achilles’  injured  fame  : 
Another’s  is  the  crime,  but  yours  the  shame. 

Grant  that  our  chief  offend  through  rage  or  lust, 
Must  you  be  cowards  if  your  king’s  unjust  ? 

Prevent  this  evil,  and  your  country  save  :  155 

Small  thought  retrieves  the  spirits  of  the  brave. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XIII. 


301 


Think,  and  subdue;  on  dastards  dead  to  fame 
I  waste  no  anger,  for  they  feel  no  sname : 

But  you,  the  pride,  the  flower  of  all  our  host, 

My  heart  weeps  blood  to  see  your  glory  lost !  160 

Nor  deem  this  day,  this  battle,  all  you  lose  ; 

A  day  more  black,  a  fate  more  vile  ensues. 

Let  each  reflect,  who  prizes  fame  or  breath, 

On  endless  infamy,  on  instant  death. 

For  lo  !  the  fated  time,  the  appointed  shore  ;  165 

Hark  !  the  gates  burst,  the  brazen  barriers  roar ! 
Impetuous  Hector  thunders  at  the  wall ; 

The  hour,  the  spot,  to  conquer,  or  to  fall.” 

These  words  the  Grecians’  fainting  hearts  inspire, 
And  listening  armies  catch  the  godl.ke  fire.  170 
Fix’d  at  his  post  was  each  bold  Ajax  found, 

With  well-ranged  squadrons  strongly  circled  round: 
So  close  their  order,  so  disposed  their  fi^ht, 

As  Pallas’  self  might  view  writh  fix’d  delight; 

Or  had  the  god  of  war  inclined  his  eyes,  175 

The  god  of  war  had  own’d  a  just  surprise. 

A  chosen  phalanx,  firm,  resolved  as  Kate, 
Descending  Hector  and  his  battle  wait. 

An  iron  scene  gleams  dreadful  o’er  the  fields, 
Armour  in  armour  lock'd,  and  shields  in  shields,  180 
Spears  lean  on  spears,  on  target  targets  throng, 
Helms  stuck  to  helms,  and  mail  drove  man  along. 
The  floating  plumes  unnumber’d  wave  above, 

As  when  an  earthquake  stirs  the  nodding  grove ; 
And,  levell’d  at  the  spies  with  pointing  rays,  185 
Their  brandish’d  lances  at  each  motion  blaze. 

Thus  breathing  death,  in  terrible  array, 

The  close-compacted  legions  urged  the  way  : 

Fierce  they  drove  on,  impatient  to  destroy  ; 

Troy  charged  the  first,  and  Hector  first  of  Troy.  190 
As  from  some  mountain’s  craggy  forehead  torn, 

A  rock’s  round  fragment  flies,  with  fury  borne, 
(Which  from  the  stubborn  stone  a  torrent  rends,) 
Precipitate  the  ponderous  mass  descends : 
hom. — i. — c  c 


302 


HOMER. 


From  steep  to  steep  the  rolling  ruin  bounds ;  195 

At  every  shock  the  crackling  wood  resounds: 

Still  gathering  force,  it  smokes ;  and,  urged  amain, 
Whirls,  leaps,  and  thunders  down,  impetuous  to  the 
plain : 

There  stops — so  Hector.  Their  whole  force  he 
proved, 

Resistless  when  he  raged,  and  when  he  stopp’d,  un¬ 
moved.  200 

On  him  the  war  is  bent,  the  darts  are  shed, 

And  all  their  falchions  wave  around  his  head  : 
Repulsed  he  stands,  nor  from  his  stand  retires ; 

But  with  repeated  shouts  his  army  fires. 

“  Trojans  !  be  firm  ;  this  arm  shall  make  your  way 
Through  yon  square  body,  and  that  black  array.  206 
Stand,  and  my  spear  shall  rout  their  scattering  power, 
Strong  as  they  seem,  embattled  like  a  tower : 

For  he  that  Juno’s  heavenly  bosom  warms, 

The  first  of  gods,  this  day  inspires  our  arms.”  210 
He  said,  and  roused  the  soul  in  every  breast ; 

Urged  with  desire  of  fame,  beyond  the  rest, 

Forth  march’d  Deiphobus  ;  but  marching  held, 
Before  his  wary  steps,  his  ample  shield. 

Bold  Merion  aim’d  a  stroke,  nor  aim’d  it  wide;  215 
The  glittering  javelin  pierced  the  tough  bull  hide; 
But  pierced  not  through :  unfaithful  to  his  hand, 

The  point  broke  short,  and  sparkled  in  the  sand. 

The  Trojan  warrior,  touch’d  with  timely  fear, 

On  the  raised  orb  to  distance  bore  the  spear :  220 

The  Greek  retreating  mourn’d  his  frustrate  blow, 
And  cursed  the  treacherous  lance  that  spared  a  foe ; 
Then  to  the  ships  with  surly  speed  he  went, 

To  seek  a  surer  javelin  in  his  tent. 

Meanwhile  with  rising  rage  the  battle  glows,  225 
The  tumult  thickens,  and  the  clamour  grows. 

By  Teucer’s  arm  the  warlike  lmbrius  bleeds, 

The  son  of  Mentor,  rich  in  generous  steeds. 

Ere  yet  to  Troy,  the  sons  of  Greece  were  led, 

In  fair  Pedaeus’  verdant  pastures  bred,  230 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XIII. 


303 


The  youth  had  dwelt;  remote  from  war’s  alarms, 
And  bless’d  in  bright  Medesicaste’s  arms  • 

(This  nymph,  the  fruit  of  Priam’s  ravish'd  joy, 

Allied  the  warrior  to  the  house  of  Troy.) 

To  Troy,  when  glory  call’d  his  arms,  he  came,  235 
And  match’d  the  bravest  of  her  chiefs  in  fame  : 

With  Priam’s  sons,  a  guardian  of  the  throne, 

He  lived,  beloved  and  honour’d  as  his  own. 

Him  Teucer  pierced  between  the  throat  and  ear: 

He  groans  beneath  the  Telamonian  spear.  240 
As  from  some  far-seen  mountain’s  airy  crown, 
Subdued  by  steel,  a  tall  ash  tumbles  down, 

And  soils  its  verdant  tresses  on  the  ground  : 

So  falls  the  youth ;  his  arms  the  fall  resound. 

Then  Teucer  rushing  to  despoil  the  dead,  245 
From  Hector’s  hand  a  shining  javelin  fled: 

He  saw,  and  shunn’d  the  death  ;  the  forceful  dart 
Sung  on,  and  pierced  Amphimachus’  heart, 

Cteatus’  son,  of  Neptune’s  forceful  line  ; 

Vain  was  his  courage,  and  his  race  divine  !  250 

Prostrate  he  falls  ;  his  clanging  arms  resound, 

And  his  broad  buckler  thunders  on  the  ground. 

To  seize  his  beamy  helm  the  victor  flies, 

And  just  had  fasten’d  on  the  dazzling  prize, 

When  Ajax’s  manly  arm  a  javelin  flung;  355 

Full  on  the  shield’s  round  boss  the  weapon  rung; 

He  felt  the  shock,  nor  more  was  doom’d  to  feel, 
Secure  in  mail,  and  sheath’d  in  shining  steel. 
Repulsed  he  yields;  the  victor  Greeks  obtain 
The  spoils  contested,  and  bear  off  the  slain.  260 
Between  the  leaders  of  the  Athenian  line, 

(Stichius  the  brave,  Menestheus  the  divine,) 
Deplored  Amphimachus,  sad  object!  lies; 

Imbrius  remains  the  fierce  Ajaces’  prize. 

As  two  grim  lions  bear  across  the  lawn,  265 

Snatch’d  from  devouring  hounds,  a  slaughter’d  fawn, 
In  their  fell  jaws  high  lifting  through  the  wood, 

And  sprinkling  all  the  shrubs  with  drops  of  blood ; 


304 


HOMER. 


So  these  the  chief :  great  Ajax  from  tne  dead 
Strips  his  bright  arms,  Oileus  lops  his  head:  270 

Toss’d  like  a  ball,  and  whirl’d  in  air  away, 

At  Hector’s  feet  the  gory  visage  lay. 

The  god  of  ocean,  fired  with  stern  disdain, 

And  pierced  with  sorrow  for  his  grandson  slain, 
Inspires  the  Grecian  hearts,  confirms  their  hands, 
And  breathes  destruction  to  the  Trojan  bands.  276 
Swift  as  a  whirlwind  rushing  to  the  fleet, 

He  finds  the  lance-famed  Idomen  of  Crete  ; 

His  pensive  brow  the  generous  care  express’d 
With  which  a  wounded  soldier  touch’d  his  breast, 
Whom  in  the  chance  of  war  a  javelin  tore,  281 
And  his  sad  comrades  from  the  battle  bore : 

Him  to  the  surgeons  of  the  camp  he  sent; 

That  office  paid,  he  issued  from  his  tent, 

Fierce  for  the  fight :  to  him  the  god  begun,  286 
In  Thoas’  voice,  Andraemon’s  valiant  son, 

Who  ruled  where  Caly don’s  white  rocks  arise, 

And  Pleuron’s  chalky  cliffs  emblaze  the  skies. 

“Where’s  now  th’ imperious  vaunt,  the  daringboast, 
Of  Greece  victorious,  and  proud  11  ion  lost  ?”  290 

To  whom  the  king :  “  On  Greece  no  blame  be  thrown, 
Arms  are  her  trade,  and  war  is  all  her  own. 

Her  hardy  heroes  from  the  well-fought  plains 
Nor  fear  withholds,  nor  shameful  sloth  detains. 

’Tis  Heaven,  alas!  and  Jove’s  all-powerful  doom, 
That  far,  far  distant  from  our  native  home  296 
Wills  us  to  fall,  inglorious  !  oh,  my  friend  ! 

Once  foremost  in  the  fight,  still  prone  to  lend 
Or  arms,  or  counsels,  now  perform  thy  best; 

And  what  thou  canst  not  singly,  urge  the  rest.”  300 
Thus  he  ;  and  thus  the  god,  whose  force  can  make 
The  solid  globe’s  eternal  basis  shake : 

“Ah!  never  may  he  see  his  native  land, 

But  feed  the  vultures  on  this  hateful  strand, 

Who  seeks  ignobly  in  his  ships  to  stay,  305 

Nor  dares  to  combat  on  this  signal  day ! 


274  Amphimachus. 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XIII. 


305 


For  this,  behold  !  in  horrid  arms  I  shine, 

And  urge  thy  soul  to  rival  acts  with  mine  ; 

Together  let  us  battle  on  the  plain  ; 

Two,  not  the  worst ;  nor  e’en  this  succour  vain  ; 
Not  vain  the  weakest,  if  their  force  unite  ;  311 

But  ours,  the  bravest  have  confess’d  in  fight.” 

This  said,  he  rushes  where  the  combat  burns ; 
Swift  to  his  tent  the  Cretan  king  returns. 

From  thence  two  javelins  glittering  in  his  hand,  315 
And  clad  in  arms  that  lighten’d  all  the  strand, 

Fierce  on  the  foe  the  impetuous  hero  drove  ; 

Like  lightning  bursting  from  the  arm  of  Jove, 

Which  to  pale  man  the  wrath  of  Heaven  declares, 
Or  terrifies  the  offending  world  with  wars  ;  320 

In  streamy  sparkles,  kindling  all  the  skies, 

From  pole  to  pole  the  trail  of  glory  flies. 

Thus  his  bright  armour  o’er  the  dazzled  throng 
Gleam’d  dreadful,  as  the  monarch  flash’d  along. 

Him,  near  his  tent,  Meriones  attends  ;  325 

Whom  thus  he  questions  :  “Ever  best  of  friends! 
Oh  say,  in  every  art  of  battle  skill’d, 

What  holds  thy  courage  from  so  brave  a  field? 

On  some  important  message  art  thou  bound, 

Or  bleeds  my  friend  by  some  unhappy  wound  1  330 
Inglorious  here,  my  soul  abhors  to  stay. 

And  glows  with  prospects  of  the  approaching  day.” 

“  Oh  prince  !”  Meriones  replies,  “  whose  care 
Leads  forth  the  embattled  sons  of  Crete  to  war; 
This  speaks  my  grief :  this  headless  lance  I  wield  ; 
The  rest  lies  rooted  in  a  Trojan  shield.  ”  336 

To  whom  the  Cretan :  “  Enter,  and  receive 
The  wanted  weapons  ;  those  my  tent  can  give ; 
Spears  I  have  store,  and  Trojan  lances  all, 

That  shed  a  lustre  round  the  illumined  wall.  340 
Though  I,  disdainful  of  the  distant  war, 

Nor  trust  the  dart,  nor  aim  the  uncertain  spear, 

Yet  hand  to  hand  I  fight,  and  spoil  the  slain  ; 

And  thence  these  trophies  and  these  arms  I  gain. 

cc  2 


306 


HOMER. 


Enter,  and  see  on  heaps  the  helmets  roll’d,  345 
And  high  shrung  spears,  and  shields  that  flame  with 
gold.” 

“  Nor  vain,”  said  Merion,  “  are  our  martial  toils; 
We  too  can  boast  of  no  ignoble  spoils. 

But  those  my  ship  contains ;  whence  distant  far, 

I  fight  conspicuous  in  the  van  of  war.  350 

What  need  I  more?  If  any  Greek  there  be 
Who  knows  not  Merion,  I  appeal  to  thee.” 

To  this,  Idomeneus  :  “  The  fields  of  fight 
Have  proved  thy  valour,  and  unconquer’d  might ; 
And  were  some  ambush  for  the  foes  design’d,  355 
Ev’n  there  thy  courage  would  not  lag  behind. 

In  that  sharp  service,  singled  from  the  rest, 

The  fear  of  each,  or  valour  stands  confess’d. 

No  force,  no  firmness,  the  pale  coward  shows ; 

He  shifts  his  place,  his  colour  comes  and  goes  ;  360 
A  dropping  sweat  creeps  cold  on  every  part ; 
Against  his  bosom  beats  his  quivering  heart ; 

Terror  and  death  in  his  wild  eyeballs  stare; 

With  chattering  teeth  he  stands,  and  stiffening  hair, 
And  looks  a  bloodless  image  of  despair  !  365 

Not  so  the  brave — still  dauntless,  still  the  same, 
Unchanged  his  colour,  and  unmoved  his  frame  ; 
Composed  his  thought,  determined  is  his  eye, 

And  fix’d  his  soul,  to  conquer  or  to  die : 

If  aught  disturb  the  tenour  of  his  breast,  370 

’Tis  but  the  wish  to  strike  before  the  rest. 

“  In  such  assays  thy  blameless  worth  is  known, 
And  every  art  of  dangerous  war  thy  own. 

By  chance  of  fi^ht  whatever  wound  you  bore, 

Those  wounds  were  glorious  all,  and  all  before  ;  375 
Such  as  may  teach,  ’twas  still  thy  brave  delight 
To  oppose  thy  bosom  where  the  foremost  fight. 

But  why,  like  infants,  cold  to  honour’s  charms, 
Stand  we  to  talk,  when  glory  calls  to  arms? 

Go — from  my  conquer’d  spears  the  choicest  take, 
And  to  their  owners  send  them  nobly  back.”  381 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XIII. 


307 


Swift  as  the  word  bold  Merion  snatch’d  a  spear. 
And  breathing  slaughter  follow’d  to  the  war. 

So  Mars  armipotent  invades  the  plain  : 

(The  wide  destroyer  of  the  race  of  man  :)  385 

Terror,  his  best-loved  son,  attends  his  course, 
Arm’d  with  stern  boldness,  and  enormous  force  ; 
The  pride  of  haughty  warriors  to  confound, 

And  lay  the  strength  of  tyrants  on  the  ground  : 

From  Thrace  they  fly,  call’d  to  the  dire  alarms  390 
Of  warring  Phlegyans  and  Ephyrian  arms ; 

Invoked  by  both,  relentless  they  dispose 
To  these  glad  conquest,  murderous  rout  to  those. 

So  march’d  the  leaders  of  the  Cretan  train, 

And  their  bright  arms  shot  horror  o’er  the  plain.  395 
Then  first  spake  Merion  :  “  Shall  we  join  the  right, 
Or  combat  in  the  centre  of  the  fight] 

Or  to  the  left  our  wanted  succour  lend] 

Hazard  and  fame  all  parts  alike  attend.” 

“  Not  in  the  centre,”  idomen  replied  :  400 

“  Our  ablest  chieftains  the  main  battle  guide ; 

Each  godlike  Ajax  makes  that  post  his  care, 

And  gallant  Teucer  deals  destruction  there  : 

Skill’d,  or  with  shafts  to  gall  the  distant  field, 

Or  bear  close  battle  on  the  sounding  shield.  405 
These  can  the  rage  of  haughty  Hector  tame : 

Safe  in  their  arms,  the  navy  fears  no  flame  ; 

Till  Jove  himself  descends,  his  bolts  to  shed, 

And  hurl  the  blazing  ruin  at  our  head. 

Great  must  he  be,  of  more  than  human  birth,  410 
Nor  feed  like  mortals  on  the  fruits  of  earth, 

Him  neither  rocks  can  crush,  nor  steel  can  wound, 
Whom  Ajax  fells  not  on  the  ensanguined  ground. 

In  standing  fight  he  mates  Achilles’  force, 

Excell’d  alone  in  swiftness  in  the  course.  415 

Then  to  the  left  our  ready  arms  apply, 

And  live  with  glory,  or  with  glory  die.” 

He  said ;  and  Merion  to  the  appointed  placf, 
Fierce  as  the  god  of  battles,  urged  his  pace. 


.308 


HOMER. 


Soon  as  the  foe  the  shining  chiefs  beheld  420 

Rush  like  a  fiery  torrent  o’er  the  field, 

Their  force  imbodied  in  a  tide  they  pour ; 

The  rising  combat  sounds  along  the  shore. 

As  warring  winds,  in  Sirius’  sultry  reign, 

From  different  quarters  sweep  the  sandy  plain  ;  425 
On  every  side  the  dusty  whirlwinds  rise, 

And  the  dry  fields  are  lifted  to  the  skies : 

Thus,  by  despair,  hope,  rage,  together  driven, 

Met  the  black  hosts,  and,  meeting,  darken'd  heaven. 
All  dreadful  glared  the  iron  face  of  war,  430 

Bristled  with  upright  spears,  and  flash’d  afar; 

Dire  was  the  gleam  of  breastplates,  helms,  and 
shields, 

And  polish’d  arms  emblazed  the  flaming  fields 
Tremendous  scene  !  that  general  horror  gave, 

But  touch’d  with  joy  the  bosoms  of  the  brave.  435 
Saturn’s  great  sons  in  fierce  contention  vied, 

And  crowds  of  heroes  in  their  anger  died. 

The  sire  of  earth  and  heaven,  by  Thetis  won 
To  crown  with  glory  Peleus’  godlike  son, 

Will’d  not  destruction  to  the  Grecian  powers,  440 
But  spared  a  while  the  destined  Trojan  towers: 
While  Neptune,  rising  from  his  azure  main, 

Warr’d  on  the  king  of  heaven  with  stern  disdain, 
And  breathed  revenge,  and  fired  the  Grecian  train. 
Gods  of  one  source,  of  one  ethereal  race,  445 

Alike  divine,  and  heaven  their  native  place  : 

But  Jove  the  greater;  firstborn  of  the  skies, 

And  more  than  men,  or  gods,  supremely  wise. 

For  this,  of  Jove’s  superior  might  afraid, 

Neptune  in  human  form  conceal’d  his  aid.  450 

These  powers  infold  the  Greek  and  Trojan  train 
In  War  and  Discord’s  adamantine  chain, 

Indissolubly  strong;  the  fatal  tie 

Is  stretch’d  on  both,  and  close-compell'd  they  die. 

Dreadful  in  arms,  and  grown  in  combats  gray,  455 
The  bold  Idomeneus  controls  the  day. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XIII. 


309 


First  by  his  hand  Othryoneus  was  slain, 

S well’d  with  false  hopes,  with  mad  ambition  vain! 
Call’d  by  the  voice  of  war  to  martial  fame, 

From  high  Cabesus’  distant  walls  he  came ;  460 

Cassandra’s  love  he  sought,  with  boasts  of  power, 
And  promised  conquest  was  the  proffer’d  dower. 

The  king  consented,  by  his  vaunts  abused  : 

The  king  consented,  but  the  fates  refused. 

Proud  of  himself,  and  of  the  imagined  bride,  465 
The  field  he  measured  with  a  larger  stride. 

Him,  as  he  stalk’d,  the  Cretan  javelin  found  ; 

Vain  was  his  breastplate  to  repel  the  wound  : 

His  dream  of  glory  lost,  he  plunged  to  hell : 

His  arms  resounded,  as  the  boaster  fell.  470 

The  great  Idomeneus  bestrides  the  deau  ; 

“  And  thus,”  he  cries,  “  behold  thy  promise  sped ! 
•Such  is  the  help  thy  arms  to  Ilion  bring, 

And  such  the  contract  of  the  Phrygian  king! 

Our  offers  now,  illustrious  prince  !  receive ;  475 

For  such  an  aid  what  will  not  Argos  give  ? 

To  conquer  Troy,  with  ours  thy  forces  join, 

And  count  Atrides’  fairest  daughter  thine. 

Meantime,  on  further  methods  to  advise, 

Come,  follow  to  the  fleet  thy  new  allies ;  480 

There  hear  what  Greece  has  on  her  part  to  say.” 

He  spoke,  and  dragg’d  the  gory  corse  away. 

This  Asius  view’d,  unable  to  contain, 

Before  his  chariot  warring  on  the  plain ; 

His  valued  coursers,  to  his  squire  consign’d,  485 
Impatient  panted  on  his  neck  behind. 

To  vengeance  rising  with  a  sudden  spring, 

He  hoped  the  conquest  of  the  Cretan  king. 

The  wary  Cretan,  as  his  foe  drew  near, 

Full  on  his  throat  discharged  the  forceful  spear:  490 
Beneath  the  chin  the  point  was  seen  to  glide, 

And  glitter’d,  extant,  at  the  farther  side. 

As  when  the  mountain  oak,  or  poplar  tall, 

Or  pine,  fit  mast  for  some  great  admiral, 


310 


HOMER. 


Groans  to  the  oft-heaved  axe,  with  many  a  wound, 
Then  spreads  a  length  of  ruin  o’er  the  ground  :  496 
So  sunk  proud  Asius  in  that  dreadful  day, 

And  stretch’d  before  his  much-loved  coursers  lay. 
He  grinds  the  dust  distain’d  with  streaming  gore, 
And,  fierce  in  death,  lies  foaming  on  the  shore.  500 
Deprived  of  motion,  stiff  with  stupid  fear, 

Stands  all  aghast  his  trembling  charioteer, 

Nor  shuns  the  foe,  nor  turns  the  steeds  away, 

But  falls  transfix’d,  an  unresisting  prey  : 

Pierced  by  Antilochus,  he  pants  beneath  505 

The  stately  car,  and  labours  out  his  breath. 

Thus  Asius’  steeds,  their  mighty  master  gone, 
Remain  the  prize  of  Nestor’s  youthful  son. 

Stabb’d  at  the  sight,  Deiphobus  drew  nigh, 

And  made,  with  force,  the  vengeful  weapon  fly.  510 
The  Cretan  saw,  and  stooping,  caused  to  glance  » 
From  his  slope  shield  the  disappointed  lance. 
Beneath  the  spacious  targe  (a  blazing  round. 

Thick  with  bull  hides,  and  brazen  orbits  bound, 

On  his  raised  arm  by  two  strong  braces  stay’d)  515 
He  lay  collected  in  defensive  shade; 

O’er  his  safe  head  the  javelin  idly  sung, 

And  on  the  tinkling  verge  more  faintly  rung. 

Ev’n  then  the  spear  the  vigorous  arm  confess’d, 

And  pierced,  obliquely,  King  Hypsenor’s  breast;  520 
Warm’d  in  his  liver,  to  the  ground  it  bore 
The  chief,  his  people’s  guardian  now  no  more ! 

“  Not  unattended,”  the  proud  Trojan  cries, 

“  Nor  unrevenged,  lamented  Asius  lies : 

For  thee  though  hell’s  black  portals  stand  display’d, 
This  mate  shall  joy  thy  melancholy  shade.”  526 
Heart-piercing  anguish,  at  the  haughty  boast, 
Touch’d  every  Greek,  but  Nestor’s  son  the  most. 
Grieved  as  he  was,  his  pious  arms  attend, 

And  his  broad  buckler  shields  his  slaughter’d  friend; 
Till  sad  Mecistheus  and  Alastor  bore  531 

His  honour’d  body  to  the  tented  shore. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XIII. 


311 


Not  yet  from  fight  Idomeneus  withdraws; 
Resolved  to  perish  in  his  country’s  cause, 

Or  find  some  foe.  whom  Heaven  and  he  shall  doom 
To  wail  his  fate  in  death’s  eternal  gloom.  53 G 

He  sees  Alcathous  in  the  front  aspire ; 

Great  ^Esyetes  was  the  hero’s  sire : 

His  spouse,  Hippodame,  divinely  fair, 

Auchises’  eldest  hope,  and  darling  care  ;  540 

Who  charm’d  her  parent’s  and  her  husband’s  heart, 
With  beauty,  sense,  and  every  work  of  art ; 

He  once,  of  1  lion’s  youth,  the  loveliest  boy, 

The  fairest  she  of  all  the  fair  of  Troy. 

By  Neptune  now  the  hapless  hero  dies,  545 

Who  covers  with  a  cloud  those  beauteous  eyes, 

And  fetters  every  limb:  yet  bent  to  meet 

His  fate  he  stands;  nor  shuns  the  lance  of  Crete. 

Fix’d  as  some  column,  or  deep-rooted  oak 

While  the  winds  sleep,  his  breast  received  the  stroke. 

Before  the  ponderous  stroke  his  corslet  yields,  551 

Long  used  to  ward  the  death  in  fighting  fields. 

The  riven  armour  sends  a  jarring  sound  : 

His  labouring  heart  heaves  with  so  strong  a  bound, 
The  long  lance  shakes,  and  vibrates  in  the  wound: 
Fast  flowing  from  its  source,  as  prone  he  lay,  550 
Life’s  purple  tide  impetuous  gush’d  away. 

Then  Idomen,  insulting  o’er  the  slain  ; 

“  Behold,  Deiphobus  !  nor  vaunt  in  vain : 

See !  on  one  Greek  three  Trojan  ghosts  attend  ;  560 
This,  my  third  victim,  to  the  shades  I  send. 
Approaching  now,  thy  boasted  might  approve, 

And  try  the  prowess  of  the  seed  of  Jove. 

From  Jove,  enamour’d  on  a  mortal  dame, 

Great  Minos,  guardian  of  his  country,  came  :  565 

Deucalion,  blameless  prince!  was  Minos’  heir; 

His  firstborn  I,  the  third  from  Jupiter: 

O’er  spacious  Crete  and  her  bold  sons  I  reign, 

And  thence  my  ships  transport  me  through  the  main: 
Lord  of  a  host,  o’er  all  my  host  I  shine,  670 

A  scourge  to  thee,  thy  father,  and  thy  line.” 


312 


IIOMER. 


The  Trojan  heard  ;  uncertain  or  to  meet 
Alone,  with  vent’rous  arms,  the  King  of  Crete; 

Or  seek  auxiliar  force:  at  length  decreed 

To  call  some  hero  to  partake  the  deed.  575 

Forthwith  Aeneas  rises  to  his  thought: 

For  him,  in  Troy’s  remotest  lines  he  sought; 

Where  lie,  incensed  at  partial  Priam,  stands, 

And  sees  superior  posts  in  meaner  hands. 

To  him,  ambitious  of  so  great  an  aid,  580 

The  bold  Deiphobus  approach’d  and  said  : 

“Now,  Trojan  prince, employ  thy  pious  arms, 

If  e’er  thy  bosom  fell  fair  honour’s  charms. 
Alcatlious  dies,  thy  brother  and  thy  friend  ! 

Come,  and  the  warrior’s  loved  remains  defend.  585 
Beneath  his  cares  thy  early  youth  was  train’d, 

One  table  fed  you,  and  one  roof  contain’d. 

This  deed  to  fierce  Idomeneus  we  owe ; 

Haste,  and  revenge  it  on  the  insulting  foe.” 

iEneas  heard,  and  for  a  space  resign’d  590 

To  tender  pity  all  his  manly  mind ; 

Then,  rising  in  his  rage,  he  burns  to  fight: 

The  Greek  awaits  him,  with  collected  might. 

As  the  fell  boar  on  some  rough  mountain’s  head, 
Arm’d  with  wild  terrors,  and  to  slaughter  bred,  595 
When  the  loud  rustics  rise  and  shout  from  far, 
Attends  the  tumult  and  expects  the  war; 

O’er  his  bent  back  the  bristly  horrors  rise, 

Fires  stream  in  lightning  from  his  sanguine  eyes, 

His  foaming  tusks  both  dogs  and  men  engage,  600 
But  most  his  hunters  rouse  his  mighty  rage: 

So  stood  Idomeneus,  his  javelin  shook, 

And  met  the  Trojan  with  a  lowering  look. 
Antilochus,  Deipyrus,  were  near, 

The  youthful  offspring  of  the  god  of  war,  605 

Menon,  and  Aphareus,  in  field  renown’d  : 

To  these  the  warrior  sent  his  voice  around : 
“Fellows  in  arms!  your  timely  aid  unite; 

Lo,  great  iEneas  rushes  to  the  fight: 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XIII.  313 

Sprung  from  a  god,  and  more  than  mortal  bold ;  610 
He  fresh  in  youth,  and  I  in  arms  grown  old. 

Else  should  this  hand,  this  hour,  decide  the  strife, 
The  great  dispute,  of  glory  or  of  life.” 

He  spoke,  and  all  as  with  one  voice  obey’d: 

Their  lifted  bucklers  cast  a  dreadful  shade  615 
Around  the  chief.  AUneas  too  demands 
The  assisting  forces  of  his  native  bands: 

Paris,  Deiphobus,  Agenor  join  ; 

(Co-aids  and  captains  of  the  Trojan  line;) 

In  order  follow  all  the  imbodied  train;  620 

Like  Ida’s  flocks  proceeding  o’er  the  plain; 

Before  his  fleecy  care,  erect  and  bold, 

Stalks  the  proud  ram,  the  father  of  the  fold: 

With  joy  the  swain  surveys  them,  as  he  leads 
To  the  cool  fountains,  through  the  well  known 
meads ;  625 

So  joys  ASneas,  as  his  native  band 
Moves  on  in  rank,  and  stretches  o’er  the  land. 

Round  dead  Alcathous  now  the  battle  rose  : 

On  every  side  the  steely  circle  grows  ; 

Now  batter’d  breastplates  and  hack’d  helmets  ring, 
And  o’er  their  heads  unheeded  javelins  sing.  631 
Above  the  rest  two  towering  chiefs  appear, 

There  great  Idomeneus,  ASneas  here  : 

Like  gods  of  war,  dispensing  fate,  they  stood, 

And  burn’d  to  drench  the  ground  in  mutual  blood. 
The  Trojan  weapon  wizz’d  along  in  air,  636 

The  Cretan  saw,  and  shunn’d  the  brazen  spear : 

Sent  from  an  arm  so  strong,  the  missive  wood 
Stuck  deep  in  earth,  and  quiver’d  where  it  stood. 

But  CEnomas  received  the  Cretan’s  stroke  ;  640 

The  forceful  spear  his  hollow  corslet  broke ; 

It  ripp’d  his  belly  with  a  ghastly  wound, 

And  roll’d  the  smoking  entrails  to  the  ground. 
Stretch’d  on  the  plain,  he  sobs  away  his  breath, 

And  furious  grasps  the  bloody  dust  in  death.  645 
The  victor  from  his  breast  the  weapon  tears — 

(His  spoils  he  could  not,  for  the  shower  of  spears.) 

HOM. — I. — D  D 


314 


HOMER. 


Though  now  unfit  an  active  war  to  wage, 

Heavy  with  cumbrous  arms,  stiff  with  cold  age, 

His  listless  limbs  unable  for  the  course ;  650 

In  standing  fight  he  yet  maintains  his  force  : 

Till,  faint  with  labour,  and  by  foes  repell’d, 

His  tired  slow  steps  he  drags  from  off  the  field. 

Deiphobus  beheld  him  as  he  pass’d, 

And  fired  with  hate,  a  parting  javelin  cast ;  655 

The  javelin  err’d,  but  held  its  course  along, 

And  pierced  Ascalaphus,  the  brave  and  young: 

The  son  of  Mars  fell  gasping  on  the  ground, 

And  gnash’d  the  dust  all  bloody  with  his  wound. 

Nor  knew  the  furious  father  of  his  fall ;  660 

High  throned  amid  the  great  Olympian  hall, 

On  golden  clouds  the  immortal  synod  sat, 

Detain’d  from  bloody  war  by  Jove  and  Fate. 

Now,  where  in  dust  the  breathless  hero  lay, 

For  slain  Ascalaphus  commenced  the  fray.  665 
Deiphobns  to  seize  his  helmet  flies, 

And  from  his  temples  rends  the  glittering  prize  ; 
Valiant  as  Mars,  Meriones  drew  near, 

And  on  his  loaded  arm  discharged  his  spear: 

He  drops  the  weight,  disabled  with  the  pain;  670 
The  hollow  helmet  rings  against  the  plain. 

Swift  as  the  vulture  leaping  on  his  prey, 

From  his  torn  arm  the  Grecian  rent  away 
The  reeking  javelin,  and  rejoin’d  his  friends  ; 

His  wounded  brother  good  Polites  tends  ;  675 

Around  his  waist  his  pious  arms  he  threw, 

And  from  the  rage  of  combat  gently  drew  ; 

Him  his  swift  coursers,  on  his  splendid  car, 

Rapt  from  the  lessening  thunder  of  the  war;  679 
To  Troy  they  drove  him,  groaning  from  the  shore, 
And  sprinkling,  as  he  pass’d,  the  sands  with  gore. 
Meanwhile  fresh  slaughter  bathes  the  sanguine 
ground, 

Heaps  fall  on  heaps,  and  heaven  and  earth  resound. 
Bold  Aphareus  by  great  Aeneas  bled  ; 

As  tow’rds  the  chief  he  turn’d  his  daring  head,  695 


ILIAD. BOOK  XIII.  315 

He  pierced  his  throat ;  the  bending  head,  depress’d 
Beneath  his  helmet,  nods  upon  his  breast ; 

His  shield  reversed  o’er  the  fall’ll  warrior  lies, 

And  everlasting  slumber  seals  his  eyes. 

Antilochus,  as  Thoon  turn’d  him  round,  690 

Transpierced  his  back  with  a  dishonest  wound: 

The  hollow  vein  that  to  the  neck  extends 
Along  the  chine,  his  eager  javelin  rends  : 

Supine  he  falls,  and  to  his  social  train 

Spreads  his  imploring  arms,  but  spreads  in  vain.  695 

The  exulting  victor,  leaping  where  he  lay, 

From  his  broad  shoulders  tore  the  spoils  away ; 

His  time  observed ;  for,  closed  by  foes  around, 

On  all  sides  thick,  the  peals  of  arms  resound. 

His  shield,  emboss'd,  the  ringing  storm  sustains,  700 
But  he,  impervious  and  untouch’d  remains. 

(Great  Neptune’s  care  preserved  from  hostile  rage 
This  youth,  the  joy  of  Nestor’s  glorious  age.) 

In  arms  intrepid,  with  the  first  he  fought, 

Faced  every  foe,  and  every  danger  sought ;  705 

His  winged  lance,  resistless  as  the  wind, 

Obeys  each  motion  of  the  master’s  mind  ; 

Restless  it  flies,  impatient  to  be  free, 

And  meditates  the  distant  enemy. 

The  son  of  Asius,  Adamas,  drew  near,  710 

And  struck  his  target  with  the  brazen  spear, 

Fierce  in  his  front:  but  Neptune  wards  the  blow. 
And  blunts  the  javelin  of  the  eluded  foe : 

In  the  broad  buckler  half  the  weapon  stood ; 
Splinter’d  on  earth  flew  half  the  broken  wood.  715 
Disarm’d,  he  mingled  in  the  Trojan  crew ; 

But  Merion’s  spear  o’ertook  him  as  he  flew, 

Deep  in  the  belly’s  rim  an  entrance  found, 

Where  sharp  the  pang,  and  mortal  is  the  wound. 
Bending  he  fell,  and  doubled  to  the  ground,  720 
Lay  panting.  Thus  an  ox,  in  fetters  tied, 

While  death’s  strong  pangs  distend  his  labouring  side, 
His  bulk  enormous  on  the  field  displays ; 

His  heaving  heart  beats  thick,  as  ebbing  life  decays. 


316 


HOMER. 


The  spear,  the  conqueror  from  his  body  drew,  725 
And  death’s  dim  shadows  swarm  before  his  view. 
Next  brave  Deipyrus  in  dust  was  laid: 

King  Helenus  waved  high  the  Thracian  blade, 

And  smote  his  temples,  with  an  arm  so  strong, 

The  helm  fell  off,  and  roll’d  amid  the  throng:  730 
There,  for  some  luckier  Greek  it  rests  a  prize ; 

For  dark  in  death  the  godlike  owner  lies  ! 

Raging  with  grief,  great  Menelaus  burns, 

And,  fraught  with  vengeance,  to  the  victor  turns 
That  shook  the  pond’rous  lance  in  act  to  throw  ;  735 
And  this  stood  adverse  with  the  bended  bow : 

Full  on  his  breast  the  Trojan  arrow  fell, 

But  harmless  bounded  from  the  plated  steel. 

As  on  some  ample  barn’s  well  harden’d  floor, 

(The  winds  collected  at  each  open  door,)  740 

While  the  broad  fan  with  force  is  whirl’d  around, 
Light  leaps  the  golden  grain,  resulting  from  the 
ground; 

So  from  the  steel  that  guards  Atrides’  heart, 
Repell’d  to  distance  flies  the  bounding  dart. 

Atrides,  watchful  of  the  unwary  foe,  745 

Pierced  with  his  lance  the  hand  that  grasp’d  the  bow, 
And  nail’d  it  to  the  eugh :  the  wounded  hand 
Trail’d  the  long  lance  that  mark’d  with  blood  the  sand: 
But  good  Agenor  gently  from  the  wound 
The  spear  solicits,  and  the  bandage  bound  ;  750 

A  sling’s  soft  wool,  snatch’d  from  a  soldier’s  side, 

At  once  the  tent  and  ligature  supplied. 

Behold  !  Pisander,  urged  by  fate’s  decree, 

Springs  through  the  ranks  to  fall,  and  fall  by  thee, 
Great  Menelaus  !  to  enhance  thy  fame  ;  755 

High  towering  in  the  front,  the  warrior  came. 

First  the  sharp  lance  was  by  Atrides  thrown  ; 

The  lance  far  distant  by  the  winds  was  blown. 

Nor  pierced  Pisander  through  Atrides’  shield  ; 
Pisander’s  spear  fell  shiver’d  on  the  field.  760 

Not  so  discouraged,  to  the  future  blind, 

Vain  dreams  of  conquest  swell  his  haughty  mind ; 


iLIAD. - BOOK  XIII. 


317 


Dauntless  he  rushes  where  the  Spartan  lord 
Like  lightning  brandish’d  his  far-beaming  sword. 

His  left  arm  high  opposed  the  shining  shield  :  765 

His  right,  beneath,  the  cover’d  poleaxe  held ; 

(An  olive’s  cloudy  grain  the  handle  made, 

Distinct  with  studs,  and  brazen  was  the  blade ;) 

This  on  the  helm  discharged  a  noble  blow  ; 

The  plume  dropp’d  nodding  to  the  plain  below,  770 
Shorn  from  the  crest.  Atrides  waved  his  steel : 
Deep  through  his  front  the  weighty  falchion  fell; 
The  crashing  bones  before  its  force  gave  way  ; 

In  dust  and  blood  the  groaning  hero  lay  ; 

Forced  from  their  ghastly  orbs,  and  spouting  gore, 
The  clotted  eyeballs  tumble  on  the  shore.  776 

The  fierce  Atrides  spurn’d  him  as  he  bled, 

Tore  off  his  arms,  and,  loud  exulting,  said  : 

“  Thus,  Trojans,  thus,  at  length  be  taught  to  fear ; 
Oh  race  perfidious,  who  delight  in  war  !  780 

Already  noble  deeds  ye  have  perform’d, 

A  princess  raped  transcends  a  navy  storm’d : 

In  such  bold  feats  your  impious  might  approve, 
Without  the  assistance  or  the  fear  of  Jove. 

The  violated  rites,  the  ravish’d  dame,  785 

Our  heroes  slaughter’d,  and  our  ships  on  flame, 
Crimes  heap’d  on  crimes,  shall  bend  your  glory 
down. 

And  whelm  in  ruins  yon  flagitious  town. 

Oh  thou,  great  Father  !  lord  of  earth  and  skies! 
Above  the  thought  of  man,  supremely  wise  !  790 

If  from  thy  hands  the  fates  of  mortals  flow, 

From  whence  this  favour  to  an  impious  foe, 

A  godless  crew,  abandon’d  and  unjust, 

Still  breathing  rapine,  violence,  and  lust ! 

The  best  of  things  beyond  their  measure  cloy,  795 
Sleep’s  balmy  blessing,  love’s  endearing  joy  ; 

The  feast,  the  dance  ;  whate'er  mankind  desire, 

Ev’n  the  sweet  charms  of  sacred  numbers  tire. 

But  Troy  for  ever  reaps  a  dire  delight 

In  thirst  of  slaughter,  and  in  lust  of  fight.”  800 

d  d  2 


318 


HOMER. 


This  said,  he  seized,  while  yet  the  carcass  heaved, 
The  bloody  armour,  which  his  train  received: 

Then  sudden  mix’d  among  the  warring  crew, 

And  the  bold  son  of  Pylaemenes  slew. 

Harpalion  had  through  Asia  travell’d  far,  805 

Following  his  martial  father  to  the  war; 

Through  filial  love  he  left  his  native  shore, 

Never,  ah  never,  to  behold  it  more  ! 

His  unsuccessful  spear  he  chanced  to  fling 
Against  the  target  of  the  Spartan  king;  810 

Thus  of  his  lance  disarm’d,  from  death  he  flies, 

And  turns  around  his  apprehensive  eyes. 

Him  through  the  hip  transpiercing  as  he  fled, 

The  shaft  of  Merion  mingled  with  the  dead. 

Beneath  the  bone  the  glancing  point  descends,  815 
And,  driving  down,  the  swelling  bladder  rends : 

Sunk  in  his  sad  companions’  arms  he  lay 
And  in  short  pantings  sobb’d  his  soul  away ; 

(Like  some  vile  worm  extended  on  the  ground ;) 
While  life’s  red  torrent  gush’d  from  out  the  wound. 

Him  on  his  car  the  Paphlagonian  train  821 

In  slow  procession  bore  from  off  the  plain. 

The  pensive  father,  father  now  no  more ! 

Attends  the  mournful  pomp  along  the  shore  ; 

And  unavailing  tears  profusely  shed  ;  825 

And  unrevenged  deplored  his  offspring  dead. 

Paris  from  far  the  moving  sight  beheld, 

With  pity  soften’d,  and  with  fury  swell’d  ; 

His  honour’d  host,  a  youth  of  matchless  grace, 

And  loved  of  all  the  Paphlagonian  race  !  830 

With  his  full  strength  he  bent  his  angry  bow, 

And  wing’d  the  feather’d  vengeance  at  the  foe. 

A  chief  there  was,  the  brave  Euchenor  named, 

For  riches  much,  and  more  for  virtue  famed, 

Who  held  his  seat  in  Corinth’s  stately  town  ;  835 

Polydus’  son,  a  seer  of  old  renown. 

Oft  had  the  father  told  his  early  doom, 

By  arms  abroad  or  slow  disease  at  home : 


ILIAD. - BOOK  XIII. 


319 


He  climb’d  his  vessel,  prodigal  of  breath, 

And  rhose  the  certain,  glorious  path  to  death.  840 
Beneath  his  ear  the  pointed  arrow  went; 

The  soul  came  issuing  at  the  narrow  vent : 

His  limbs,  unnerved,  drop  useless  on  the  ground, 
And  everlasting  darkness  shades  him  round.  844 
Nor  knew  great  Hector  how  his  legions  yield  ; 
(Wrapp’d  in  the  cloud  and  tumult  of  the  field  ;) 

Wide  on  the  left  the  force  of  Greece  commands, 
And  conquest  hovers  o’er  the  Achaian  bands  : 

With  such  a  tide  superior  virtue  sway’d, 

And  he  that  shakes  the  solid  earth  gave  aid.  850 
But  in  the  centre  Hector  fix'd  remain’d, 

Where  first  the  gates  were  forced  and  bulwarks 
gain’d ; 

There  on  the  margin  of  the  hoary  deep, 

(Their  naval  station  where  the  Ajaces  keep, 

And  where  low  walls  confine  the  beating  tides,  855 
Whose  humble  barrier  scarce  the  foes  divides  ; 
Where  late  in  fight,  both  foot  and  horse  engaged. 
And  all  the  thunder  of  the  battle  raged,) 

There,  join’d,  the  whole  Boeotian  strength  remains, 
The  proud  Ionians  with  their  sweeping  trains,  860 
Locrians  and  Phthians,  and  the  Epaean  force; 

But  join’d,  repel  not  Hector’s  fiery  course. 

The  flower  of  Athens,  Stichius,  Phidas  led, 

Bias  and  great  Menestheus  at  their  head, 

/Aeges  the  strong  the  Epeian  bands  controll’d,  865 
And  Dracius  prudent,  and  Amphion  bold ; 

The  Phthians  Medon,  famed  for  martial  might, 

And  brave  Podarces,  active  in  the  fight. 

This  drew  from  Phylachus  his  noble  line; 

Iphiclus’  son;  and  that,  Oileus,  thine.  870 

(Young  Ajax’  brother,  by  a  stolen  embrace; 

He  dwelt  far  distant  from  his  native  place. 

By  his  fierce  stepdame  from  his  father’s  reign 
Expell’d  and  exiled  for  her  brother  slain.) 

850  Neptune.  * 


320 


HOMER. 


These  rule  the  Phthians,  and  their  arms  employ, 
Mix,’d  with  Boeotians,  on  the  shores  of  Troy.  876 
Now,  side  by  side,  with  like  unwearied  care, 

Each  Ajax  labour’d  through  the  field  of  war : 

So  when  two  lordly  bulls,  with  equal  toil, 

Force  the  bright  ploughshare  through  the  fallow  soil, 
Join’d  to  one  yoke,  the  stubborn  earth  they  tear,  881 
And  trace  large  furrows  with  the  shining  share; 

O’er  their  huge  limbs  the  foam  descends  in  snow, 
And  streams  of  sweat  down  their  sour  foreheads 
flow. 

A  train  of  heroes  follow’d  through  the  field,  885 
Who  bore  by  turns  great  Ajax’s  sevenfold  shield: 
Whene’er  he  breathed,  remissive  of  his  might, 

Tired  with  the  incessant  slaughters  of  the  fight. 

No  following  troops  his  brave  associate  grace  : 

In  close  engagement  an  unpractised  race,  890 

The  Locrian  squadrons  nor  the  javelin  wield, 

Nor  bear  the  helm,  nor  lift  the  moony  shield ; 

But  skill’d  from  far  the  flying  shaft  to  wing, 

Or  whirl  the  sounding  pebble  from  the  sling. 
Dexterous  with  these  they  aim  a  certain  wound, 

Or  fell  the  distant  warrior  to  the  ground.  896 

Thus  in  the  van  the  Telamonian  train, 

Throng’d  in  bright  arms,  a  pressing  fight  maintain; 
Far  in  the  rear  the  Locrian  archers  lie, 

Whose  stones  and  arrows  intercept  the  sky.  900 
The  mingled  tempest  on  the  foes  they  pour; 

Troy’s  scattering  orders  open  to  the  shower. 

Now  had  the  Greeks  eternal  fame  acquired, 

And  the  gall’d  Ilians  to  the  walls  retired; 

But  sage  Polydamas,  discreetly  brave,  905 

Address’d  great  Hector,  and  this  counsel  gave  : 

“  Though  great  in  all,  thou  seem’st  averse  to  lend 
Impartial  audience  to  a  faithful  friend: 

To  gods  and  men  thy  matchless  worth  is  known. 
And  every  art  of  glorious  war  thy  own ;  910 

But  in  cool  thought  and  counsel  to  excel, 

How  widely  differs  this  from  warring  well ! 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XIII.  321 

Content  with  what  the  bounteous  gods  have  given, 
Seek  not  alone  to  engross  the  gifts  of  Heaven. 

To  some  the  powers  of  bloody  war  belong,  915 
To  some,  sweet  music,  and  the  charm  of  song ; 

To  few,  and  wondrous  few.  has  Jove  assign’d 
A  wise,  extensive,  all-considering  mind: 

Their  guardians  these  the  nations  round  confess, 
And  towns  and  empires  for  their  safety  bless.  920 
If  Heaven  have  lodged  this  virtue  in  my  breast, 
Attend,  oh  Hector,  what  I  judge  the  best. 

See,  as  thou  movest,  on  dangers  dangers  spread, 
And  war’s  whole  fury  burns  around  thy  head. 

Behold !  distress’d  within  yon  hostile  wall,  925 
How  many  Trojans  yield,  disperse,  or  fall ! 

What  troops,  outnumber’d,  scarce  the  war  maintain! 
And  what  brave  heroes  at  the  ships  lie  slain  ! 

Here  cease  thy  fury ;  and  the  chiefs  and  kings 
Convoked  to  council,  weigh  the  sum  of  things:  930 
Whether  (the  gods  succeeding  our  desires) 

To  yon  tall  ships  to  bear  the  Trojan  fires ; 

Or  quit  the  fleet,  and  pass  unhurt  away, 

Contented  with  the  conquest  of  the  day. 

I  fear,  I  fear,  lest  Greece,  not  yet  undone,  935 

Pay  the  large  debt  of  last  revolving  sun; 

Achilles,  great  Achilles,  yet  remains 
On  yonder  decks,  and  yet  o’erlooks  the  plains  !” 

The  counsel  pleased  ;  and  Hector,  with  a  bound, 
Leap’d  from  his  chariot  on  the  trembling  ground ; 
Swift  as  he  leap’d,  his  clanging  arms  resound.  941 
“  To  guard  this  post,”  he  cried,  “  thy  art  employ, 
And  here  detain  the  scatter’d  youth  of  Troy ; 

Where  yonder  heroes  faint,  I  bend  my  way, 

And  hasten  back  to  end  the  doubtful  day.”  945 
This  said,  the  towering  chief  prepares  to  go, 
Shakes  his  white  plumes  that  to  the  breezes  flow, 
And  seems  a  moving  mountain  topp’d  with  snow. 
Through  all  his  host,  inspiring  force,  he  flies, 

And  bids  anew  the  martial  thunder  rise.  950 


322 


HOMER. 


To  Panthus’son,  at  Hector’s  high  command, 

Haste  the  hold  leaders  of  the  T rojan  band : 

But  round  the  battlements,  and  round  the  plain, 

For  many  a  chief  he  look’d,  but  look’d  in  vain; 
Deiphobus,  nor  Helenus  the  seer,  955 

Nor  Asius’  son,  nor  Asius’  self  appear. 

For  these  were  pierced  with  many  a  ghastly  wound, 
Some  cold  in  death,  some  groaning  on  the  ground: 
Some  low  in  dust,  a  mournful  object,  lay  ; 

High  on  the  wall  some  breathed  their  souls  away. 

Far  on  the  left,  amid  the  throng,  he  found  961 
(Cheering  the  troops  and  dealing  death  around) 

The  graceful  Paris;  whom,  with  fury  moved, 
Opprobrious,  thus,  the  impatient  chief  reproved: 

“Ill-fated  Paris  !  slave  to  womankind,  965 

As  smooth  of  face  as  fraudulent  of  mind  ! 

Where  is  Deiphobus,  where  Asius  gone? 

The  godlike  father  and  the  intrepid  son  ? 

The  force  of  Helenus,  dispensing  fate, 

And  great  Othryoneus,  so  fear’d  of  late?  970 

Black  fate  hangs  o’er  thee  from  the  avenging  gods. 
Imperial  Troy  from  her  foundation  nods; 

Whelm’d  in  thy  country’s  ruin  shalt  thou  fall, 

And  one  devouring  vengeance  swallow  all.” 

When  Paris  thus:  “  My  brother  and  my  friend. 
Thy  warm  impatience  makes  thy  tongue  offend.  976 
In  other  battles  I  deserved  thy  blame, 

Though  then  not  deedless,  nor  unknown  to  fame; 
But  since  yon  rampart  by  thy  arms  lay  low, 

I  scatter’d  slaughter  from  my  fatal  bow.  980 

The  chiefs  you  seek  on  yonder  shore  lie  slain: 

Of  all  those  heroes  two  alone  remain, 

Deiphobus,  and  Helenus  the  seer : 

Each  now  disabled  by  a  hostile  spear. 

Go  then,  successful,  where  thy  soul  inspires ;  985 

This  heart  and  hand  shall  second  all  thy  fires : 

What  with  this  arm  I  can,  prepare  to  know, 

Till  death  for  death  be  paid,  and  blow  for  blow. 


ILIAD. — BOOK  XIII. 


323 


But,  ’tis  not  ours,  with  forces  not  our  own 
To  combat ;  strength  is  of  the  gods  alone.”  990 
These  words  the  hero’s  angry  mind  assuage ; 
Then  fierce  they  mingle  where  the  thickest  rage. 
Around  Polydamas,  distain’d  with  blood, 

Cebrion,  Phalces,  stern  Orthaeus,  stood, 

Palmus,  with  Polypoetes  the  divine,  995 

And  two  bold  brothers  of  Hippotion’s  line: 

(Who  reach’d  fair  1  lion,  from  Ascania  far, 

The  former  day  ;  the  next  engaged  in  war.) 

As  when  from  gloomy  clouds  a  whirlwind  springs, 
That  bears  Jove’s  thunder  on  its  dreadful  wings, 
Wide  o’er  the  blasted  fields  the  tempest  sweeps; 
Then,  gather’d,  settles  on  the  hoary  deeps  ;  1002 

The  afflicted  deeps  tumultuous  mix  and  roar; 

The  waves  behind  impel  the  waves  before, 

Wide  rolling,  foaming  high,  and  tumbling  to  the  shore; 
Thus  rank  on  rank  the  thick  battalions  throng, 

Chief  urged  on  chief,  and  man  drove  man  along. 

Far  o’er  the  plains  in  dreadful  order  bright, 

The  brazen  arms  reflect  a  beamy  light : 

Full  in  the  blazing  van  great  Hector  shined,  1010 
Like  Mars  commission’d  to  confound  mankind. 
Before  him  flaming,  his  enormous  shield, 

Like  the  broad  sun,  illumined  all  the  field: 

His  nodding  helm  emits  a  streamy  ray ; 

His  piercing  eyes  through  all  the  battle  stray  ;  1015 
And  while  beneath  his  targe  he  flash’d  along, 

Shot  terrors  round,  that  wither’d  ev’n  the  strong 
Thus  stalk’d  he,  dreadful ;  death  was  in  his  look ; 
Whole  nations  fear’d ;  but  not  an  Argive  shook. 

The  towering  Ajax,  with  an  ample  stride,  1020 
Advauced  the  first,  and  thus  the  chief  defied  : 

“  Hector  !  come  on,  thy  empty  threats  forbear; 
’Tis  not  thy  arm,  ’tis  thundering  Jove  we  fear: 

The  skill  of  war  to  us  not  idly  given,  1024 

Lo !  Greece  is  humbled,  not  by  Troy,  but  Heaven. 
Vain  are  the  hopes  that  haughty  mind  imparts, 

To  force  our  fleet :  the  Greeks  have  hands  and  hearts, 


324 


IIOMER. 


Long  ere  in  flames  our  lofty  navy  fall, 

Your  boasted  city  and  your  god-built  wall 

Shall  sink  beneath  us,  smoking  on  the  ground,  1030 

And  spread  a  long,  unmeasured  ruin  round. 

The  time  shall  come,  when,  chased  along  the  plain, 
Ev’n  thou  shalt  call  on  Jove,  and  call  in  vain  : 

Ev’n  thou  shalt  wish,  to  aid  thy  desperate  course, 
The  wings  of  falcons  for  thy  flying  horse  ;  1035 

Shalt  run,  forgetful  of  a  warrior’s  fame, 

While  clouds  of  friendly  dust  conceal  thy  shame.” 

As  thus  he  spoke,  behold  in  open  view, 

On  sounding  wings  a  dexter  eagle  flew. 

To  Jove's  glad  omen  all  the  Grecians  rise,  1040 
And  hail  with  shouts  his  progress  through  the  skies  : 
Far-echoing  clamours  bound  from  side  to  side : 

They  ceased  ;  and  thus  the  chief  of  Troy  replied : 

“  From  whence  this  menace,  this  insulting  strain? 
Enormous  boaster !  doomed  to  vaunt  in  vain.  1045 
So  may  the  gods  on  Hector  life  bestow, 

(Not  that  short  life  which  mortals  lead  below. 

But  such  as  those  of  Jove’s  high  lineage  born, 

The  blue-eyed  maid,  or  he  that  gilds  the  morn,) 

As  this  decisive  day  shall  end  the  fame  1050 

Of  Greece,  and  Argos  be  no  more  a  name. 

And  thou,  imperious !  if  thy  madness  wait 
The  lance  of  Hector,  thou  shalt  meet  thy  fate : 

That  giant  corpse,  extended  on  the  shore, 

Shall  largely  leed  the  fowls  with  fat  and  gore.” 

He  said,  and  like  a  lion  stalk’d  along  :  1056 

With  shouts  incessant  earth  and  ocean  rung, 

Sent  from  his  following  host:  the  Grecian  train 
With  answering  thunders  fill’d  the  echoing  plain: 

A  shout  that  tore  heaven’s  concave,  and  above  1060 
Shook  the  fix’d  splendours  of  the  throne  of  Jove. 


END  OF  VOL.  I. 


Date  Due 


DATE  DUE 

DEC  2  8 

1988 

. 

GAYLORO 

(“HINTED  IN  U.S.  A. 

3  If  78 


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